Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if additional supports will be made available for sports clubs that support initiatives to open their facilities to persons with disabilities. [47528/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to a “Sport for All” approach aimed at ensuring that all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity, regardless of age, social-economic status, disability, or membership of minorities.

In relation to the development and improvement of sports facilities, capital funding is provided by my Department for this purpose. In considering applications for funding, projects that increase active sport participation by people with a disability are prioritised, and universal design principles must be adhered to. 

At the end of November 2021, I launched a new Sports Action Plan covering the period up to the end of 2023.The plan's emphasis is heavily orientated towards increasing inclusion, diversity and equality in sport, an emphasis that embraces and encompasses people with a disability.

€35mis being made available as part of Budget 2023 to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for sports clubs and organisations. This special fund will help clubs with the cost of floodlights, heating gyms and sports halls, as well as other energy costs.  The framework for this assistance programme will be put in place in the coming weeks.

Dormant Accounts Funding is the principal mechanism used to fund targeted sports-related projects for disadvantaged communities and for people with disabilities. Funding for such projects now amounts to €12 million per annum, a record level that is more than twice the level that prevailed a number of years ago. Funding is available to support people with disabilities to become involved in sport and physical activity under a variety of programmes and initiatives that are aimed at reducing barriers to sports participation for people with a disability.

It is recognised and accepted that sports clubs are key agents in the delivery of the Government's Sport for All approach. A €2 million "Sport for All" Disability Supports Club Fund is accordingly included under this year's Dormant Accounts programme and enables affiliated sports clubs to apply for up to €5,000 to support the initiation or enhancement of disability specific initiatives within their clubs.  Sport Ireland is currently assessing applications for this fund, with an announcement on successful applicants due before the end of the year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which an awarding of further sports grants is anticipated in the coming year; the extent to which those who were beneficiaries in the past three years and found themselves unable to complete the works can be accommodated by time extensions or top-ups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47511/22]

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.  Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion.   The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.  

The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. 

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. 

Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. On foot of that process, consequent allocations amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May.

The total allocation of €150 million for capital projects, and €166.6 million for the 2020 round in total, represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.  

While the priority in the short term is to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage, my Department continues to support and guide grantees from past rounds as they manage their grants. This requires detailed engagement with all grantees and, where necessary, requests for extensions and changes of purpose of grants have been accommodated.

Following completion of the appeal process, my Department has subsequently undertaken a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP and any recommendations arising will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round.  Following the completion of the review, the Department will announce the exact timing of the next round but it is hoped to have it open for applications early in the new year.