Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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280. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the allocation for sports capital grants in 2020 and 2021; and if the grant programme is now open on an annual basis. [33578/21]

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 recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

Due to the nature of the Programme it can take grantees a number of years to draw down grants. Details of all payments and allocations under the Programme are published on my Department's website https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/#sports-capital-programme-applications-allocations-and-payments.  The available annual funding for the Programme is contained within the relevant estimates volumes.

The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March, 2021. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received. Given the record number of applications and the detailed information contained in each application, the assessment process will take a number of months to complete.  It is envisaged that allocations for applications for sports equipment- only will be made first during the Summer with allocations to other capital projects announced before the end of the year. It is intended to allocate a minimum of €40m under this round of the Programme.