Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad Deputy Leddin mentioned the large-scale sport infrastructure fund. As Deputy Leddin, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and some other Deputies will be aware, the redevelopment at Walsh Park in Waterford was one of the biggest recipients of sport funding in the country in living memory. Some €7.7 million was allocated to Walsh Park for the redevelopment of the stadium. I was down there and it is very positive to see what is happening. It is also one of the first projects to draw down all of that funding, including the top-up of €3.3 million last year, and to be required to publish a policy showing that men and women have similar access to the facilities. This is a radical move. I am sure it presents no difficulties for the three county boards in Waterford but it is very positive.

Deputy Feighan mentioned Sligo Rovers. As he will know, I have been to its grounds and have also seen Sligo play at my home club. Sligo Rovers have a very impressive set-up. We would certainly welcome applications from the club. However, as with all projects under the LSSIF, the project would have to be prioritised by the FAI or Sligo County Council. That is how the process works. That is to give a bit of transparency and to show that projects are not just being chosen from Dublin. Deputies Feighan and Smith both mentioned the importance of the regions. We absolutely get that. It is a great priority for us.

Deputy Smith also mentioned multisport facilities. That is the way we want to go. We incentivise that under the sports capital system. If two clubs genuinely come together in a joint venture, they qualify for regional status. Where a community facility is used for more than one sport, we are prepared to give it regional status.

Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned a number of clubs in Dundalk, some of which I have visited. I understand the level of disadvantage there and the level of support that is needed. I was in a boxing club and the work it is doing is absolutely incredible.

To respond to Deputy Durkan, we gave top-ups under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund because of the problems Covid caused for those grants. In this round of sports capital funding, we have increased the thresholds because we know that the Covid pandemic resulted in a lot of inflation over recent years.

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