Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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13. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the sports capital and equipment programme; and when she expects the programme to open for applications for 2023. [56950/22]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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20. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a review of sports capital is underway; if any changes in the format for the next round of funding calls are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56605/22]

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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41. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next round of sports capital funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56768/22]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her Department's plans for a future round of the sports capital grants scheme; the timeframe for the commencement of the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56984/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The sports capital and Equipment programme makes an enormous contribution to thousands of sporting clubs, organisations and schools which have benefited from the fund. The programme supports jobs when delivering capital projects and also provides an economic and social stimulus in both urban and rural areas. Could the Minister of State provide an update on the current status of the sports capital programme and the future timing on next year's plans?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response in relation to this important programme. We understand the importance of sport to communities around the country and it is imperative to fund it. Money spent on sport is money saved on healthcare down the road.

Certainly, the 2020 sports allocation programme has been hugely successful and I commend the Minister of State on his efforts in relation to the national fund of over €166 million that was allocated for both equipment and sports capital.

The Minister of State mentioned the draft review of the 2020 programme is under way. When does he expect it to be published? Will it be before the end of the year? The potential timing for 2023 is important because many sporting organisations that did not apply before March 2021 are eager to apply in 2023. I would appreciate an update on this.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I join other Deputies in asking similar questions. When will the next round of sports capital grant funding be out? I acknowledge the enormous success of the previous round and its benefit. It is fabulous as a local representative from Cork East to see the projects under way in a number of sports clubs. We are looking forward to welcoming the Minister and Minister of State from the Department at some stage. It is important that we get an indication of when the next round will come down the tracks. Many clubs have prepared projects under the Covid-19 restrictions. They would like to get a picture of when the next round will come up for debate, discussion and application. We all look forward to it. I commend the Minister and the Minister of State on behalf of many very happy clubs undertaking projects at present. I thank them for all the work they and the Department have done.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputies Dillon and O'Connor for their questions and remarks. We expect the review to be published by the end of the year. It is pretty much ready. We will have to consider it and then it will be published. It should be ready very shortly. I appreciate the question asked by Deputies O'Connor and Dillon on the importance of planning for the next round and the level of ambition in communities when it comes to sports capital and equipment programme. This is why we are anxious to advance a further round. We expect it to open early next year. This is why it is important for clubs, whether or not they have received funding, so they can continue to have phased progress of their ambition for their clubs and communities. This will build a more active society as younger people and those of all generations participate in sport. We are ambitious to advance this. As I have said, we will make a formal announcement when we have an exact timing on it. We expect it to be early next year.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the response of the Minister of State. Certainly in my constituency, more than 99 sporting organisations and schools benefited from the fund. In total €4.8 million was allocated through the sports capital programme. More than €470,000 was allocated through the sports equipment programme. This is a significant contribution to sport. Given the record number of applications I commend the Department on the information, presentation and support they give to applicants who are not familiar with the process in respect of doing the paperwork and forwarding the required quotations. I look forward to the programme opening in 2023. It is very important and I thank the Minister of State for his response.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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The questions we are asking this morning are to get a picture of when we will know about the next round of sports capital grants. As I outlined earlier, it is very important that we have forward planning. The Government, I hope, has slightly more than two years left prior to the next general election. I would love to be in a position while we are in government be able to visit, with my constituency colleague, Deputy Stanton, the sports clubs in our constituency to ask what help and assistance they want with sports capital grants. We are very proud to see the impact of the project the Government undertook with the previous sports capital grants programme and the equipment grant programme. They have been superb. It would be fantastic to get an indication of when the next round will be brought forward.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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There is great teamwork in our constituency. It is great to be able to work with a colleague like that. I want to bring the Minister of State back to the question of sites. We have enthusiastic clubs and whether they are building sports fields or getting a lawn mower, the grant can make a big difference to them. I say well done to the Minister, the Minister of State and the officials. The issue now seems to be how we can give money and not how we cannot give it. The philosophy and vision have turned around in a big way. Many clubs cannot find a place for a sports field, running track or swimming pool, as I said earlier. In many communities, clubs do not have the wherewithal or finance to get started. As part of the review, will the Minister of State have a look at how clubs and communities can be assisted, particularly clubs from more disadvantaged areas that will really find it difficult? Perhaps local authorities do not see this as a priority. Will the Minister of State look at this and take it on board as an issue?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all three Deputies for their remarks. I will respond to Deputy Dillon first. I have close roots in Mayo and the people there have huge pride in supporting the county. It is great to see the level of interest in grassroots participation there. I also agree that we have an excellent team in the Department in Killarney. They are very proactive in engaging with clubs and communities and providing them with assistance. It is great to see the teamwork and collaboration through sport between Deputies O'Connor and Stanton. As I have said previously to Deputy O'Connor, we expect it to be open very early next year. That is as good a signal as possible to clubs that they can plan ahead and work on their next level of ambition. For some clubs, this will mean following through on their existing allocation. Others will want to apply again. Some did not come in on the previous occasion as people have said. It is to give them this opportunity. Deputies O'Connor and Stanton come from a proud sporting community where many people successfully participate in many sports for their county and country.

With regard to land, local authorities need to use their open spaces to partner with clubs and communities. They can apply on behalf of clubs when it comes to specific proposals. We are very flexible in trying to ensure they can do this. The sports capital equipment programme will not become a land purchasing programme because that would totally undermine grassroots investment in facilities and infrastructure.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Facilities.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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We need to ensure it is focused on investment in actual participation as a core objective.