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

I propose to Questions Nos. 13, 20, 41 and 51 together.

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, SCEP, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday, 1 March 2021 and by the deadline, a record 3,106 applications were submitted.

Approximately 1,000 of the submitted applications were for equipment-only projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced in August 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday, 11 February 2022.

Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday, 4 April and 146 appeals were received. Consequent allocations on foot of successful appeals amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday, 31 May. The total allocation of €150 million for capital projects, and €166.6 million for the round in total, represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.

The priority immediately is to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under this round to formal approval and grant drawdown stage. This requires detailed ongoing engagement with all grantees.

Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the previous round of the SCEP. A draft review has now been completed and I and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, expect to be in a position to publish it shortly. Any recommendations arising from the review will be reflected in the next round and while there are always elements that can be improved, I do not envisage any major changes to the terms and conditions of the highly successful 2020 round. Following publication of the review, I will announce the exact timing of the round in the coming weeks. It is hoped to have the actual application process open early in the new year for the next round.

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