Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's first point, I agree that we need to ensure sustainability is a key focus in the sports capital investment we make. That is why in the most recent round, the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and I rewarded clubs with sustainable applications. It was part of the scoring criteria, which have since been published. In the most recent round, many clubs changed their floodlighting from the traditional lighting to LED lights. Some bought the more sustainable energy systems and that was allowed for within sports capital programme. The further iteration early next year will have a continued focus on that. Ensuring that clubs can continue to invest in the sustainable facilities through lighting or elsewhere is important. We are keen to support that as well as working with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, on what else can be provided from its perspective to support clubs and make investment more sustainable.

The application process is open at present. We advertised it last week and all governing bodies have communicated to their clubs outlining the process requiring clubs to submit their cost increases by providing a comparison of their current costs with 2019. That will be collated and put together by all the governing bodies.

They are going to collate that and submit the combined demand within their sport to Sport Ireland, which will then assess the level of demand and disburse the majority of the €35 million towards the end of December. We expect that to reach clubs early next year. We are keen to ensure that the clubs and grassroots see benefits quickly. We want that money to hit their accounts at a time when they need to keep their lights on to support grassroots participation in sport. That is the broad framework. Many clubs are submitting their changed bills at present. Each governing body has communicated the specific mechanism they require within their own sport. That collation will happen. Sport Ireland will then assess the combined requests. That is how the process is working.