Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update as to when the next round of the sports capital and equipment programme will open to applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23080/23]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details as to when the sports capital and equipment programme will open for applications in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23198/23]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the report into the sports capital and equipment programme will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23081/23]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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19. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the review of the most recent round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme will be published; when he expects the next round of the Programme to open for new applications; what the anticipated closing date will be for applications; when he expects the first allocations to be announced; the total budget he anticipates for the Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23600/23]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the review of the sports capital and equipment programme; when it is expected to open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23671/23]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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40. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she intends to take to boost support and funding to improve the provision of facilities for community sports, particularly in disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23581/23]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking this question. We all acknowledge the contribution that sports capital grants have made to clubs right across the country over many years. The programme has made a difference but it needs reform. Can he provide an update as to when the next round of the sports capital programme will be open to applicants please?

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I will take Questions Nos. 11, 14, 17, 19, 35 and 40 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. More than 13,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to in excess of €1.15 billion. The programme for Government commits to continuing the programme and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas. The 2020 round of the programme closed for applications on 1 March 2021 and by the deadline, there were a record 3,106 applications. The final allocations were announced on 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166 million represents the highest ever made. Details of all allocations can be found on the Department's website.

The priority in recent months has been to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to formal approval and grant drawdown stage. There is ongoing detailed engagement with all grantees. Following completion of the appeals process, the Department commenced a full review of the 2020 round. The review has been published and is available on the Department’s website. Among the recommendations contained in the published review is a continued prioritisation of projects that share facilities with other sports, which is really important, and further enhanced investment in areas of disadvantage. The review also identifies new areas for consideration including: an increase in the thresholds; rewarding projects that include adaptations for persons with disabilities; rewarding projects that incorporate climate action measures; expanding the programme to include applications for upgrades to swimming pools; and prioritising applications from areas witnessing significant population growth where there is a deficit of facilities. Now that the review has been published, I have asked my officials to start to draft the guide to making an application for the 2023 round. Once completed, that will be published as well.

My officials and I, along with the Minister, continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform regarding the launch of the next cycle. In this regard, the Minister and I have written to our colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, seeking formal sanction to launch the new round of the SCEP as soon as possible. Once this sanction is received and the new guide to making an application is finalised, I will announce the exact date on which the programme will be open for applications.

Regarding the funding available for individual projects, clearly the level of demand will be a key determinant but every effort will be made to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible while providing sufficient grant funding to ensure the projects are viable. Allocations under the SCEP, and the timeframe to complete the allocation process, will be dependent on the volume of applications received. It is a very successful programme that we are very keen to continue. There is a high level of engagement between ourselves, both Ministers and our officials, with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. We are hoping for this Department to essentially approve the opening up of the round as soon as possible. There are huge benefits to this for sports facilities right around the country. We want to make sure the areas that need facilities get them. As the Deputy has mentioned previously, there are committees within areas that may not have the wherewithal to put together applications and we want to make sure they get the best help possible so that they can apply. Another point I have made is that we cannot give funding to organisations that have different terms and conditions for men and women as they use the facilities. Unfortunately, that exists in this country but we will not funding them. That is the simple answer on that. That will be a wake-up call for some.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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I had a quick look at the review earlier on but it is quite a big, hefty document so I have not gone through it. The fact that a review was done acknowledges that there is a need for reform. Unfortunately, from scanning the document, it does not outline some key reforms. Generally, we can use the term "multi-use facilities". Many clubs engage in multiple sports but they are effectively discriminated against because they cannot apply. For instance, Railway Union Sports Club has hockey, cricket, and football. The three sports codes cannot apply year after year. That is a big disadvantage for clubs such as Railway Union.

They face difficulties and are effectively discriminated against. That has not been reformed and needs to be looked at again.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's update. The SCEP is wonderful. It has made a massive difference in a huge number of communities and lives and deserves the support of the whole of government. I call on the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide its support and adequate funding. Every cent that goes into the programme is money well spent and provides a massive return for communities and for the State in general. I look forward to reading the review. Something is learned from every programme and something new always comes to the attention of the Minister and officials. I reiterate the call on the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to give approval for the opening up of the programme to new applicants and to provide funding - if it is a question of funding - as the money is well needed. Let us get on with it.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister and I are having good engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. It will certainly be listening closely to what Deputy Griffin said. We welcome that. The engagement with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is also good. We are keen to get the programme open because sports clubs are waiting for it. They are keen to apply and are getting ready for it.

In response to Deputy Andrews, we will not abolish or replace this programme, which he previously called for. It is important. However, there is a point in urban and growing areas where clubs do not have facilities and the Deputy is correct about that. Quite frankly, in some areas they probably should not have their own facilities. It would be far more efficient for the local authority to have a multi-sport facility that is big enough for all clubs to use. That model will have to be considered in developing areas, including mine. There is huge demand. It is impossible for clubs to buy land. It is a real problem. We are looking at it. To be fair, the programme gives an opportunity to a huge number of clubs. We are focusing on disadvantaged areas. For example, the Deputy's colleague mentioned boxing earlier. I have said to the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, that we want to help boxing clubs. There are many boxing clubs around the country and they need better facilities. We are willing to help them as best we can.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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I accept that the programme has been of huge benefit to many clubs. As I said, it needs to be reformed. A sports facilities strategy is needed. It is not in place. It was not mentioned in the review today. Another issue I have mentioned previously relates to clubs in disadvantaged areas. I accept that the programme gives a weighting to clubs in less affluent areas but the difficulty is that if they do not have the money upfront in the bank, they cannot draw down the grant. That does not apply to many other grants the Department pays out. It seems unfair. A club that recently contacted me was awarded slightly less than €50,000. It cannot draw it down because it does not have that kind of money in the bank. That is a serious issue for clubs in less affluent areas applying for grants.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for the opportunity to come in and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, for his response. Clubs in our constituencies applied for the latest round of funding and received the maximum, €150,000, or a little less. Due to building and construction cost inflation, that €150,000 will cover substantially less work than it would have when they were drafting their plans and applied. I would love to see an opportunity as that part of the application process for consideration to be given to some of those clubs for which the initial grant given does not now cover the cost of what was planned and the plans have stalled as they are not able to draw down the money.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot say that we will do as Deputy Lahart suggests but we will certainly examine the matter. I am willing to look at individual projects with the Deputy. This is a general issue, which is causing a huge problem. The reality is that we gave out the most money we ever gave out, by some multiples, in the latest round. Clubs have done extremely well comparatively from that. We want to ensure the facilities are delivered. The truth is that the drawdowns of funding are along the same lines as before. Clubs are drawing down, but we will wait and see how that progresses. There is a lower co-payment for clubs from disadvantaged areas. That is something we can look at. I take that point.

Sport Ireland is doing an audit of sports facilities at the moment. I hope that audit will be published in June or July. I am not entirely sure when it is due; it is in the hands of Sport Ireland. There is a lot of work going on with local authorities. I hope that audit can spark a discussion about how best to provide sports facilities. My officials have met the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's officials about it. I will follow up with a meeting with the Minister shortly. When the audit is published, it will inform the debate to a greater extent. I am from east Meath where we are badly stuck for facilities so I know all about it and am willing to work on it with colleagues across the House.