Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I praise the very considerable investment in sport that has been made by this and the previous Government and commend the Minister of State and his officials on the co-operation with local sports groups on the sports capital scheme and the LSSIF.

In reviewing both the sports capital scheme and the LSSIF, I will make a number of comments. It is essential, as colleagues have said, that where sporting codes are sharing facilities, that will be rewarded. Facilities must have equal access for men and women, for boys and girls, but I would also ask in the next round that particular regard would be had to recognising applications that ensure increased applications by those with a disability or by those who are neurodivergent. It is important within all our communities that sport be inclusive.

It is essential as well that we find mechanisms that will allow clubs and organisations that do not have traditional access to land or facilities ways that they can do that because this is a huge barrier for many clubs. I am particularly thinking about boxing clubs that do not have a home. Like colleagues, I think that partnership with schools and, as Deputy Devlin has mentioned, that mid-tier of funding between sports capital and LSSIF should be considered.

I praise the support that has been given in north Wexford for the development of the east-coast sporting hub, located north of Gorey town. It is a multisport facility. The first phase will fund Gorey Cricket Club, Gorey Hockey Club and Croghan Athletics to have homes there. The second phase, which we hope will be funded under the next round of the LSSIF, will provide facilities for Gorey Cycling Club and basketball. It is a showcase example of a partnership between a local authority and a number of sporting codes to be able to deliver a multisport facility. It is a model.

I want to raise also the question of sporting facilities in Arklow. Wicklow did not receive any funding under the LSSIF. I have been assured by Wicklow County Council that under the next round, it will be prioritising the development of sporting facilities in Arklow, including the Coral indoor sports hall and the facilities around the building. What is critical there is the need for a new running track for St. Benedict's athletics club. As the Minister of State might know, Arklow is the home of Ronnie Delany, who was Ireland's gold-medal winner over 1,500 m in the Melbourne 1956 Olympics. There are many great runners in the community but they do not have an adequate athletics track. In the next round of the LSSIF, as Wicklow did not get any funding, I would hope that could be prioritised.

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