Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will seek advice as to whether a local sports club (details supplied) in County Louth is eligible for supports to offset rising electricity costs for the upcoming winter months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48870/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Pigeon racing is not a sport which is recognised by Sport Ireland and, accordingly, funding is not provided under the various schemes overseen by my Department or by Sport Ireland.

In relation to my Department's responsibilities, 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. Applications for modifications to sports facilities to reduce energy consumption are eligible under the Programme.

The recent Budget also saw the allocation of €35 million to sports clubs and organisations to help them meet energy costs this winter. This special fund will help clubs with the cost of floodlights, heating gyms and sports halls, as well as other energy costs. Sport Ireland is working on a framework for the allocation of this funding and will communicate this through the National Governing Bodies in due course.

There are other government supports for reducing energy costs for public organisations and community groups and more information on those can be found on the website of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland at www.seai.ie.