Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators. The Taoiseach said in the Dáil last week that this is among the best money the Government can spend through all its range of functions. I agree with him on that and I am certain the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is also in agreement. I am confident that when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is completed, we will be ready, in accordance with the programme for Government, to open up the next round of sports capital funding. It is our intention, once the Department gives us the go-ahead, to open it up as quickly as possible. I am hopeful that will happen in a matter of weeks, with some further weeks required for the application process.

If it all goes in accordance with what my Department is seeking, which is in line with the wishes of people across the political system and in all parties, clubs will have a few short months to apply. I encourage them to think about what they want to do and how they should proceed with their applications. The forms and so on will be similar to those used during the previous round. However, one big change is that there will be a huge emphasis this time on equality and women in sport. We cannot fund projects under which women do not have the same access as men to facilities. That will pose a challenge for some organisations but I have decided this is how it will be done and I have told my officials to action it. There will be challenges in some cases but I do see how I can do otherwise.