Written answers

Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Sports Funding

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme will open for new applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18427/22]

Photo of Jack ChambersJack 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. Over 13,000 projects have now benefitted from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The 2020 round of the Programme closed for applications on 1 March 2021. By this date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200 million in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.

Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.

Currently my Department is assessing appeals from unsuccessful applicants. The deadline for submission of appeals was Monday 4th April, 2022. Of the record €150 million made available for capital projects, €6 million has been kept in reserve for any successful appeals.

When the appeal process is complete, a full review of the 2020 round of the SCEP will be undertaken and recommendations arising will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round. The precise timing of this next round of the Programme will be announced once this review is complete.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to funding schemes that would be considered for a club (details supplied) following its selection to host the Junior American NBA programme in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18616/22]

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland does not provide direct funding for clubs or individuals but channels the funding through the relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport, in this case Basketball Ireland. There is no mechanism by which Sport Ireland can allocate funding outside of this process.

The club mentioned by the Deputy should engage with Basketball Ireland to see if they can assist or advise in any way. My Department does not have discretionary funding available to it to provide direct financial assistance to the club.

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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58. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has received an appeal from a club (details supplied) in County Cork in respect of the Sports Capital Grants; if she will confirm that the proposed works in the appeal that are eligible under the terms of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18684/22]

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm an appeal has been lodged by the club mentioned by the Deputy.

Currently my Department is assessing appeals from unsuccessful applicants. The deadline for submission of appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were submitted by the deadline. Of the record €150 million made available for capital projects, €6 million has been kept in reserve for any successful appeals and it is hoped to have all appeals assessed by the end of this month.

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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59. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter in relation to a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18706/22]

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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My Departmental officials will be happy to engage constructively with the club on this matter subject to advice from the Departmental legal advisors, the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

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