Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter. I will certainly try to address those two specific questions in a few minutes, probably in the second part of my reply, after he has responded to what I have to say.

In respect of securing lands required for the sports facilities set out in the Lusk 2020 sports plan, as the Senator knows and has acknowledged, this is obviously primarily a matter for Fingal County Council. I understand, however, that the council is at an advanced stage of taking the land bank referred to into charge and I look forward to being kept informed of progress made.

On the Government's role in the provision of sports facilities, the sports capital programme, as administered by my Department, is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. It aims to foster an integrated approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. The programme has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in the quality and quantity of sports facilities in virtually every village, town and city.

We are committed to ensuring this progress continues and on 21 December 2016 it was announced that €30 million was being made available under the 2017 sports capital programme. The application process was open from 23 January to 24 February. By the closing date, a record 2,320 applications had been received. All applications are currently being assessed with allocations expected later this year. I understand a number of applications have been received from the Lusk area. More generally, the sports capital programme has already invested heavily in facilities in Dublin with €34 million provided for sports infrastructure and equipment since 2011. Fingal County Council itself has benefitted from almost €1.3 million in grants in the same period. This is separate to the substantial funding many sports clubs in Fingal have drawn down from their own developments. Furthermore, a number of clubs associated with the Lusk 2020 sports plan have benefitted from funding under recent rounds of the programme.

The programme for Government contains the aim of allocating sports capital grants annually in future. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform about how best to implement this commitment. In this regard, once the necessary land for the Lusk proposal is in council ownership, it can apply for sports capital programme funding for any suitable project under future rounds of the programme.

Regarding the Government's policy for funding of sports facilities in the future, last November the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, and I launched a major consultation process for the development of a new national sports policy framework.The examination of responses received is being finalised and we expect to present the framework to Government before the summer recess. Several key challenges will be addressed in the framework, with the overriding principle being the investigation of how to increase the number of people participating in sport and physical activity. All people, regardless of their age, gender or ability, should be able to participate in sport. The new framework will consider how best to ensure access to facilities nationally, regionally and locally. The new framework will also consider how programmes and initiatives can be developed in tandem with newly-constructed facilities to connect with traditionally non-participant groups. The framework also considers how local authorities could play an enhanced role in getting people involved in sport. It is pleasing, therefore, that the overall objectives of the Lusk 2020 plan are in accordance with these principles.

In terms of the funding of sports facilities, I mentioned the aim of running the sports capital grant programme annually. Furthermore, as part of my Department's submission to the mid-term review of the capital plan, additional funding has been sought for large-scale sports infrastructure. If the additional funding is received, it will allow consideration of the funding of large facilities requiring more than the maximum amount available under the sports capital programme. It would be open to all local authorities, including Fingal County Council, to submit applications under the terms that will apply. I reiterate the Government's commitment to improving the stock of sports facilities throughout the country. The Lusk 2020 plan is welcome, particularly in terms of setting out how a local community and relevant local authority can work together to get more people to participate in sport. As the council advances the project, my Department will consider any applications for capital funding from the council.