Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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261. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider funding for an all-weather football pitch at (details supplied). [10158/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, 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 Programme funds all-weather pitches, among other works, and any club can apply once it satisfies the terms and conditions of the scheme. Local authorities can also apply for funding and the terms and conditions of the Programme can be found at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.

In terms of future applications, the final grants under the latest round were announced on Tuesday 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. The priority in the short term is to advance the successful applications to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage.

Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. A draft of the Review is complete and I expect to be in a position to publish this Review shortly. Any recommendations arising from the finalised Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.