Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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524. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when his Department will seek applications for the large scale sport infrastructure fund as announced in budget 2018; the number of years this scheme will run for; the level of funding that will be put in place for each year of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13749/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Up to now, the sports capital programme, SCP, has been the primary means of providing Government support to sports clubs and organisations for sports capital works.

In relation to future investment, the recently published national development plan, NDP, contains a commitment to establish a new large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, with at least €100 million available over the coming years.  As part of the annual Estimates process, the multi-annual capital allocations will be reviewed and extended annually on a rolling basis to cover the subsequent five years period.  This will provide Government with an annual opportunity to review the allocations in light of any implementation issues arising and/or new priorities which may emerge as the national development plan is implemented.  The NDP also commits to a full mid-term review of the national development plan in 2022, to allow the Government to take stock of progress in terms of delivery of the planned projects and programmes, and to allow Government to review and confirm its investment priorities. The review will be carried out in order to prepare and publish a new updated 10 year plan for public capital investment in 2023, covering the period 2023 to 2032.

My officials will draft the terms and conditions of the new LSSIF over the coming months. The fund will be for larger projects where the proposed Government contribution would exceed the amount currently available for individual larger projects under the SCP. All projects funded under the scheme will be subject to the public spending code and State aid requirements. In terms of calls for proposals, it is envisaged that the views of the national governing bodies of sport and local authorities would be sought regarding the prioritisation of projects for possible inclusion.