Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a little puzzled as I do not know how much of yesterday's discussion at the select committee the Deputy followed because he is being strangely selective in his remarks. I will repeat what I said yesterday at the meeting, namely, that no decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the sports capital programme but I will discuss the matter with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and an announcement will be made shortly. That is a conclusive statement and while it is fair enough if the Deputy interpreted my remarks differently, he should read the record carefully because it is conclusive. Those were my final words on that subject yesterday at the select committee.

Deputies will be aware that the sports capital programme is the Government’s primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. They will agree that the programme has transformed the sporting landscape with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in every village, town and city. My Department is as enthusiastic about this particular round of funding as the Deputy. No Member has a monopoly on approval of the sports capital programme. We are very enthusiastic about getting on with this and promoting sporting activity throughout the country through this medium. This programme is very important to the Department.

The facilities that have been funded range from the smallest clubs to national centres of sporting excellence. The health benefits of participating in sport are well known, and approximately 90% of sports capital programme grantees have reported that they were able to increase participation as a direct result of the facilities developed with the grants.

The programme assists voluntary and community organisations, along with the national governing bodies of sport, local authorities, education and training boards and schools, to develop high-quality, safe, well designed and sustainable facilities in suitable locations and helps them to provide equipment to maximise participation in sport and physical recreation. The programme also prioritises the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities, with €14.5 million allocated in 2015 alone to projects in or near CLÁR or RAPID areas. Since 2012, a total of €113 million has been allocated in more than 2,419 projects under the advertised rounds of the sports capital programme. In recent rounds of the programme, every county has received its fair share of sports capital funding based on its population but with an adjustment to give slightly more money to counties that had fared less well under previous rounds, thus making up for historical imbalances in funding.

The sports capital programme has also distributed funding across different sports. While the three main field sports have traditionally fared well under the programme, grants to minority sports or community multi-use facilities can have a very positive effect on participation. Indeed, the 2015 SCP funded 40 different sports. It is important that minority sports receive appropriate levels of funding and it is imperative that we do not focus too much on the three main fields sports at the expense of other sports. Minority sports do a brilliant job in attracting participants who might not otherwise engage in sport at all. This is not to take away from the excellent work being done by those involved in the most popular sports. Rather, it is an acknowledgement that there are a range of other sports that may need a little help from the SCP if they are to grow, thrive and provide more choice for people who wish to engage in healthy sporting activities.

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