Written answers

Thursday, 24 September 2020

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Sports Capital Programme

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the sports capital grant scheme will open in 2020 for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26124/20]

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. The new Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas.

The most recent (2018) round of the SCP attracted a record 2,337 applications. Allocations were announced in January, May and November of last year with a total of over €56 million awarded to 1,648 different projects. All unsuccessful applicants were given the opportunity to appeal the Department’s decision. In relation to the capital grants announced in November, a total of 122 appeals were submitted by the December deadline. The review of these appeals was completed in April with 6 new allocations approved. The priority to date this year has been to advance all of these projects to ensure the facilities are available for use and that the relevant grants are drawn down.

In relation to future grants, following the finalisation of the appeals process, a full Review of the 2018 round of the SCP was undertaken. This Review has now been complete and the terms and conditions of the next round of the programme will be based on the recommendations in the Review. Work on these terms and conditions is now being finalised and a new round of the programme will be open for applications before the end of the year with an announcement in this regard expected in the coming weeks.

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