Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When we talk about the heart and the soul of a community, what comes to mind? For many people it is their local sports club. Sports are not just games that we play or watch, they are the lifeblood of communities drawing together from all walks of life. They teach us resilience, teamwork and discipline. Most importantly, sports provide a platform for personal, social and community growth. Here is the thing, however. For sports to truly shine, for them to play the role they are meant to, to bring families together, to develop confidence in young people and to create lifelong bonds, they need the right support. This means proper facilities, proper equipment and an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all. This is why I fully back enhancing Government capital sports funding for sports facilities.

This year the sports capital and equipment programme has also been scaled up. Its grant thresholds for local and regional projects have been increased, which I really welcome. For example, local projects that once had a cap of €150,000 can now get €200,000 and projects with regional significance have gone from €300,000 to a ground breaking €500,000.

As the Fine Gael spokesperson for equality, I am also delighted to see our commitment as a Government to gender equality through this grant. No longer will we allow the sidelining of any gender. For a project to be considered it must ensure equal access for both men and women, boys and girls. I am very encouraged to see a trend away from outdated practices like women playing club finals on boys' practice pitches but we need to move forward even more and towards full equality. I can see the power and the impact of supporting local facilities in my own constituency Dublin Mid-West. Since 2012 Dublin Mid-West has received €4.5 million in investment through the sports capital funds. That does not include the €1.5 million given to our council to develop pitches, pavilions and public spaces. Some of our soccer clubs that have been beneficiaries in the sports capital grant include Peamount United, St. Francis FC, Rathcoole FC and Esker Celtic. GAA clubs that have benefited include Round Tower, Lucan Sarsfields, Commercials, St. Patrick's, St. Finian's, and St. Mary's; and golf clubs that have benefited include Slade Valley, Lucan, and Beech Park. We also have had the Celbridge kayak club grow through this fund and Lucan Harriers Athletics Club was able to develop a fantastic running track in Lucan through this fund. We have also seen the growth of Lucan Pitch and Putt Club and Weston Hockey Club. Clondalkin Rugby Football Club also received funding through this fund and is currently embarking on really exciting story: a state-of-the-art, brand-new clubhouse and pitches at a new relocation site. Community centres, local parks, local schools and services have all profited from the growth of groups like this, including the Stewarts and Rathcoole community centres and many organisations in my community. We do have issues with clubs like Collinstown FC and Lucan United that have approved projects in the pipeline but are dependent on South Dublin County Council to progress their plans and utilise their funding.

I welcome the additional money that was approved under the community recognition fund for sports clubs in my area and I congratulate in particular Councillor Kenneth Egan, who worked really hard to secure funding for an AstroTurf pitch in Knockmitten. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, has visited Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin, and was really impressed by the students there and their proposals for a walking track in the school. I hope the Minister of State will look favourably on their application if it made it through to grant

We have seen clubs grow in size and in engagement in our community. This is because the sports capital grant has made a genuine difference for many families and for many dedicated sportspeople. We can see it in the upgraded facilities and in community events. I have spoken to many people and clubs in my constituencies and the feedback is absolutely unanimous. Those who have benefited from these grants cannot stress enough just how game changing this funding has been for them. It is more than money and it is more than opportunities: it is a deeper sense of community pride. I have encouraged my local clubs to apply for the latest round of funding for sports capital grants and I hope they will be successful. This is why I fully endorse the Government support for supporting our sports clubs because they are the heartbeat of so many of our communities.

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