Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the sports capital grant, which is an important initiative that has ensured the roll-out of significant funding to sports clubs throughout the country in recent decades. It is unique funding that gives sports clubs an opportunity to embark on large-scale developments. The pot of €40 million is very welcome. More than 3,100 applicants have sought money from the fund. The Department stated the calls for funding amount to in excess of €200 million. More than 60 different sports have sought funding. We have approximately one fifth of the budget relative to the demand, which gives rise to the question of how we will deal with the requests for funding. We either give a small number of the applicants the funding they require to deliver their projects or we give a large number of applicants a small amount of money, which means many of these projects will not get off the ground.

We must work between now and next November to find a solution to the problem. Sports capital grants have delivered projects in nearly every parish in the country. An important step would be to increase the allocation in the budget. We must start the conversation in that regard. If possible, we should speak to the Minister about doing something on the ground, because if we do not, then sports clubs might not get the allocation of funding they require. Many of the clubs fundraise and do so much to build up the matching funding required to develop their amenities. If we have learned anything from the pandemic, it is the need for sports clubs and amenities in every parish. I ask the Leader to agree to a debate on these issues and how we can fund sports capital projects in the future given the deficit in the pot.