Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Every Member has a few projects in mind.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter again. Along with many other Deputies, he has been a great champion of the sports capital programme. The Government allocated more than €60 million to more than 1,800 projects throughout the country under the 2017 programme. The Minister and I were delighted to do that, particularly with an increased budget.

A review of the 2017 programme has been finalised and is available on the Department's website. The review highlights aspects of the 2017 round that worked well, but also suggests further improvements that are currently being prioritised for consideration prior to the opening of the next round of the programme. Some of these changes will also require amendments to the Department's online application process and they have commenced.

The good news I have to announce is that formal sanction was received in recent days from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to open a new round of the programme. Accordingly, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I expect to make an announcement on the timing of this round in the coming weeks. Some €40 million will be available for the 2018 programme, and all clubs and organisations registered on the Department's online application system will be notified at that time. I very much look forward to engaging with all Members on delivering that programme, as I have done in the past. It has a great impact on clubs and organisations on the ground, and we very much look forward to getting that money into communities in order that these organisations can improve their sporting infrastructure for everybody's benefit.

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