Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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116. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has negotiated terms for the repayment of the €7.6 million loan given to an organisation under the 2020 memorandum of understanding; if not, if consideration is being given to converting the loan into a non-repayable grant; if he will provide a repayments schedule; the interest rate applied to the loan; and the date on which it is due for full settlement. [8914/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In recognition of the importance of the continued operation of the Aviva Stadium, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the organisation to which the Deputy refers, dated January 2020, provides for a repayable grant totalling €7.6338 million over the years 2020 - 2022 to the organisation towards the licence fee payable to the Aviva Stadium up to 2022.

In April 2020, a Memorandum of Agreement was entered into between Sport Ireland, the organisation, and New Stadium DAC - the company which operates the Aviva Stadium - for the disbursement of the organisation’s licence fee direct to New Stadium DAC. The Agreement outlines that the recoupable grant will be paid in instalments totalling €2,544,600 annually by Sport Ireland directly to New Stadium DAC on behalf of the organisation mentioned by the Deputy in each of the years 2020 to 2022.

With regard to repayment of the grant, the Agreement outlines that Sport Ireland will recoup the grant from the organisation by way of a reduction of €1 million in the annual grant provided by Sport Ireland to the organisation from 2024 onwards until the full sum is recouped.

While the organisation has written to me regarding aspects of the MOU the loan repayment arrangements as set out remain unchanged. As this is a repayable grant, no interest will apply.