David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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605. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the process by which a sports club is determined to be in a disadvantaged area or not; if a club can seek to be included in one of the grounds of demographic changes; the way in which a club might make such a case; the regularity with which the classifications are reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18214/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.

The scoring system and assessment procedures for the 2020 round are being finalised at present and will be published prior to the detailed assessment of individual applications commencing. In assessing applications, the Department primarily uses the Pobal Index of Deprivation to award marks to projects from disadvantaged areas. The index is based on information from the national census and is updated by Pobal after each census has been taken. Under this round it is also intended to award marks based on information supplied by applicants on how they intend to attract disadvantaged groups to use their proposed facilities. Full details in regard to this marking will be contained in the published scoring system.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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606. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a club (details supplied) can or could qualify as a club serving a disadvantaged community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18215/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1^stMarch. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.

The scoring system and assessment procedures are currently being finalised and will be published prior to the detailed assessment of all applications commencing. All applications, including the application referred to by the Deputy, will be assessed in accordance with these procedures. The prioritisation of the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups is a key objective of the SCEP and all applications will be assessed on how well they cater for such groups. When all applications have been assessed all applicants will be informed of the outcome of the assessment process.