Written answers

Thursday, 4 May 2023

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Sports Funding

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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175. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has or plans to engage with the Ministers for Finance and Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of accessing the revenues raised from the betting duty and betting intermediary duty for his use in the context of funding sport, sport Ireland, the sports capital grant scheme and the large-scale infrastructure scheme. [21028/23]

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the distribution of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund is a matter for the Minister for Finance. The possibility to augment the current betting levy regime for the purposes of partially funding the drive to increased sports participation continues to be raised by the sports sector and numerous sporting organisations have made proposals in recent years for what they feel would be a fairer distribution of the fund. In late 2021, my Department engaged with the Department of Finance regarding such proposals. The Department of Finance advised that money raised from betting duties, goes into general Exchequer funds rather than being ring-fenced for particular purposes.

Funding to sport has grown very significantly in the lifetime of this Government and we are on track to meet the commitment set out in 2018 to double the overall level of funding from €111 million to €220 million by 2027. The total amount of funding allocated to Sport in 2023 is €175 million and I am determined to see the improved investment levels continuing in the years ahead. Government has also provided significant support to the sports sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and under the current Sports Energy Support Scheme.

The Government is also committed to continued capital investment in sport infrastructure under both the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.

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