Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is well aware of the importance of sport in the development of a healthy and active lifestyle for young people. There is no doubt that our investment in sporting efforts throughout the country has been significant, particularly in the context of the recent announcement under the sports capital programme. This provides significant amounts of money to most clubs. However, every young person who plays at club level aspires to go on to do great things. We all did. Some succeeded; the rest of us did not. Notwithstanding this, it is important that in each county there is appropriate infrastructure to allow teams to train to a very high level.

Over the years, some counties have done really well because they have big benefactors. The very best of luck to them. That is great. However, other counties do not have these benefactors. We see both in football and hurling that it is just the preserve now of a relatively small number of counties. It is really important that we continue to invest significantly in infrastructure.

In Clare, the GAA county board has an application before the Department for a project that will cost almost €5 million. Under the terms of the relevant scheme, 70% is all that can be allocated from State resources. That would be €3.428 million. The county board has already assigned about €1.5 million of its own resources to the project. I am anxious that this funding be provided to the centre of excellence at Caherlohan, which has been in development for some time. A great deal of investment will be required to bring it up to a standard that would be commensurate with other facilities across the country.

In the context of some of the funding allocated under the large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, there has been a bit of a loaves-and-fishes approach. In other words, there has been a little for everybody. My understanding is that only about 5% of the money was drawn down in 2019. Unless a facility is given all that is required, nothing happens. With a project the size of the one to which I refer and with counties already stretched funding other aspects of sports facilities, there is no spare cash available. If the Department decides to assign 50% or even 75% of what is sought, it will not be enough to make the project viable. This is my concern when it comes to projects of this nature.

It is important that the maximum amount of money is provided for the project to which I refer. It is the number one priority for Clare County Council. My understanding is that it is number three on the priority list from the central GAA office. This is a very high ranking and indicates that the GAA at national level sees it as a strategic piece of infrastructure and one that is deserving of funding.

The project will completely transform the facility from one which is poorly presented, unfit for purpose and unable to meet the needs of existing users, into a high-quality, accessible sports venue. It will allow it to reach its potential in the context of sports participation at recreational and competitive levels, ensuring that high-performance standards are achieved. That is what we are all about here. The project will promote community access, increased wellness time, with a shared public space. It is supported by Clare County Council and multiple community partners. It is not just the GAA on its own here. There are other community interests that have already signed licence agreements with the county board and that would benefit significantly from this piece of infrastructure when it is completed.

I ask the Minister of State to do everything in his power to enable this application to be successful in full. I am clear that the potential support is a most vital ingredient in ensuring a successful outcome. I ask the Minister of State to take back to the Minister my comments on the necessity to have the maximum amount of money provided for this important project in order to ensure that it can proceed. It is over to the Government to make this happen.