Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

590. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in position to meet the requirements of community-based sporting and recreational organisations in the context of major or minor allocations under the sporting capital grant scheme in 2017 and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42427/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

591. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if is satisfied regarding the adequacy of sources of income for the funding of various capital sports projects throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42428/17]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 591 together.

The Sports Capital Programme is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. More than 10,000 projects have now benefitted from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to €911m. The programme has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in almost every area.

The 2017 round of the programme was open for applications from 23 January until 24 February 2017. 2,320 applications were received during that time seeking a total of €155m. This is the highest number of application ever submitted under the programme and is testament to the continued relevance of the programme to sports and community groups. The total amount currently available to allocate under the 2017 round is €30 million. Accordingly, the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.

Officials in my Department are finalising the assessment of all of the 2,320 applications received and I expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.

In relation to future capital funding for sports projects, my Department is currently finalising a review of national sports policy which includes a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities including large scale sports projects in the years ahead. It is hoped to publish the new Sports Policy later this year.