Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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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.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Before the Minister of State replies, I wish to echo Senator Dooley's comments. He has articulated very well a project that is essential for both well-being and sport in County Clare.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I agree. Clare hurling is doing well - I say that as a Kilkenny man - without a centre of excellence. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Ministers, Deputies Catherine Martin and Byrne. I take on board the points the Senator made.

The establishment of the LSSIF was provided for under the national sports policy 2018 to 2027. The aim of the fund is to provide support to sports facilities where the Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the sports capital and equipment programme, now renamed the community sports facilities fund. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020, with €86.4 million awarded to 33 different projects across the country. It is a substantial fund.

Additional funding of €37.6 million was allocated to 27 of these projects in December 2023, bringing the total awarded to date to LSSIF-funded projects to €124 million. Since June 2023, a number of LSSIF-funded projects have opened to the public. These include: the linear walkway and playing fields project in Meath; phase 1 of the Walsh Park redevelopment in Waterford; the Limerick Regional Athletics Hub; the Dundalk leisure centre facilities refurbishment project; and the Munster Technological University athletics track in Cork.

A number of other LSSIF projects are due to be completed or significantly progressed this year. Examples include the Connacht Rugby project and the redevelopment of St. Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, County Kildare. In April, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media published a review of the first round of the LSSIF, along with a new policy requirement on implementing similar access for men and women to sports facilities, funded under the LSSIF. Under similar access requirements, recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities that have been allocated public funding. Any organisation that is in receipt of LSSIF funding must have a similar access policy in place and put work towards publishing it as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, the Ministers, Deputies Martin and Byrne, confirmed that up to €120 million under a new round of LSSIF funding is available. The new LSSIF round closed for applications on 1 July last. As the Senator will be aware, an application in respect of the development of the Clare GAA centre of excellence at Catherlohan was one of the applications received. The assessment of applications is well advanced and it is hoped to announce allocations under the latest round of funding under the LSSIF in the coming weeks.

In addition to the LSSIF, the community sports facilities fund, formerly the sports capital and equipment programme, has been a main source of capital funding for many years. On 25 September, the Ministers, Deputies Martin and Byrne, announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities. Over €250 million has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of more than €256 million. This will facilitate the largest ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. One of the allocations confirmed last month was €478,668 towards the development of full-size GAA all-weather pitch at the centre of excellence. Again, I wish Clare GAA all the best with this project.

Overall, Gaelic games will benefit from the investment allocations to GAA clubs and organisations totalling €100 million for 2024. This follows allocations for Gaelic games under the 2020 round of over €65 million, bringing the total investment to €265 million from this fund over four years. I note the point the Senator made regarding the viability of projects and will take it back to both Ministers.

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I know the Minister understands the point. He made that very clear. It is important that we build this facility incrementally. Money has been provided, most recently almost €500,000, which is very welcome. Work has been going on over the past eight to ten years. It is at a level where it needs significant investment. That is why I appeal to all concerned at Government level.

The allocation of €3.5 million would make such a difference and bring the facility to a standard that would allow us to develop the next wave of sports for men and women. It is important that the facility is developed in an open and community way, not just for those who happen to be members of the GAA. The team, led by Kieran Keating and Deirdre Murphy, is open to ensuring that the GAA is not behind closed doors or high walls and gates, but, rather, that the facilities are open to everybody. I have no doubt that will continue to be the case.

It is recognised that we need these types of services to get people to remain in sport. We have had good success this year in Clare and want that to continue. We want to be able to keep Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork and Limerick on their toes. Young people now expect a standard that we did not have in our day and which is available elsewhere. If men and women are to remain involved in the sport, they will expect and need these facilities.

While am making the case for Claire, I am also mindful that this should be a strategic approach generally across the country. It happens to be the case that Clare has an application in this year; I hope other counties that have not already got to this stage will submit applications because that is the future. The funding works well in conjunction with funding for local clubs, which is important. We are thankful for all we have received in that regard.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I will take these points back to Ministers. This sounds like a hugely exciting prospect for Clare. I am a big fan of Clare hurling, notwithstanding the fact that I am a Kilkenny man. I love the hurling from the county.

The assessment of applications under the LSSIF is well advanced. I hope the announcement of allocations under the latest round of funding will come in the coming weeks and not before the election – we will see when that arrives.

The point the Senator raises about the opportunity that this funding provides for young people, boys and girls and men and women in the county is significant. That is why the Government recognised that in the context of the funding streams for sports clubs. It is through sport, collaboration and engagement that young people will see greater opportunities. We support that. I will take the points made back to both Ministers.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. I have no doubt that he will articulate Senator Dooley's proposal to the Minister. It is to be hoped we will see a successful outcome in terms of the application for County Clare.