Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when applications will open for the large-scale sports infrastructure fund and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6871/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question concerns applications for the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, LSSIF. When does the Minister of State expect these to open? It is critically important that we continue to invest in sport infrastructure. I would appreciate an update in this regard.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister and I have already confirmed that a new round of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund will open for applications in the first half of this year. We are still working out the dates and terms and conditions. They will be confirmed in due course. The programme is aimed primarily at national governing bodies of sport and local authorities but others such as philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations can apply. In general, they have to be prioritised by a local authority or a governing body. We may change that to include education and training boards.

It is very important that anybody considering applying for the LSSIF is aware of the new rule I was proud to introduce that men and women must have similar access to the facilities. This is a critical part of the programme. Recipients of funding must have a published policy showing how that is the case in practice.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Minister of State for their continued investment in the sports capital programme. Their indication that they will open this funding scheme in the first half of this year is very positive news. I know of the important role sport plays in people's lives in Mayo. We cannot but invest in facilities. In Castlebar, we are very fortunate that we have the sports complex at Lough Lannagh but there is a significant appetite to make a subsequent application for a large-scale multi-use sports complex, including a 4G football pitch and an all-weather tartan athletics track. That is really important. We did not have the opportunity to apply in 2018 and 2019 and it is six years on. Working with the local authority, this could be a really positive facility for Castlebar and Mayo, making it a sporting hub for tourism and attracting people to the county for sporting events.

I look forward to this scheme opening.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to visit Lough Lannagh with the Deputy and Senator Chambers some months ago. To be honest, the Deputy brought me but he should probably invite all the chief executives of local authorities around the country to see what is in Castlebar. It is a fantastic facility. I cannot give any commitments here on the floor of the Dáil to any particular projects but that type of project, which is genuinely community based, municipal, provides a variety of sport and is open to the public, is exactly the type of project we want for the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. I will leave that in the hands of Mayo County Council, should it wish to apply, and there will be a fully transparent process in terms of how that particular funding is allocated.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. He might provide me with a copy of the 2019 application that was submitted by Mayo County Council for the Mayo multi-sport outdoor adventure and sports tourism hub. It is critically important that we start working on this application now with the local authority and that we review the previous scoring and application that was submitted to ensure that we have the feasibility report, the operational business strategy, the project programme, detailed cost plan and the cost plan for delivery. That is something I will work on over the next number of weeks and months to ensure that we have a strong application for Mayo and that this project can be achievable, and that it can be delivered by the local authority in conjunction with this Government.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I call Deputy Ó Murchú, on a brief supplementary.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There will be a competitive process for this. We will not be building stadiums all around Ireland. I want to get that message out. It is not financially possible to do that. Every application will have to come either from a local authority or a national governing body, or perhaps an education and training board. Those organisations then have to stand over the project and deliver it. Deliverability is key because, in the previous round, due to various factors, many of these projects are only starting to get delivered now and we had to give extra funding to the ones that were announced in 2020. Deliverability is key.

The other key point is participation. How does this project increase participation in sport in the area? How does it get people more physically active?

What I would suggest to anybody who is seeking to apply, that is, those bodies, is that they get to work shortly because we expect to open it soon. They can look at previous applications, if they were unsuccessful, but also the general template from the previous occasion. The template will be similar; it will not be the same. There is a lot of work to do to get those ready and I strongly encourage those who are interested to start looking at that.

I do not want to give people the expectation that somehow there will be a Colosseum in every town in Ireland. There will not be. What I hope to see out of this is a significant number of added sporting facilities that people can enjoy and participate in sport in.