Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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385. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full level of Exchequer funding provided to a sporting organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22433/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding under its various programmes.

I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to funding provided by Sport Ireland to the sporting organisation mentioned by the Deputy. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Significant Government funding of over €162 million has been provided since 2020 in Covid-19 funding support to help sports organisations to recover and grow post-pandemic, support our grassroots networks of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure that people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity. Over €53 million of this Covid-19 funding was allocated across the gaelic games family.

In addition, as part of Budget 2023, €35 million was made available to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for sports clubs and organisations with a view to ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity over the winter months. €11.7 million has been allocated to the organisation mentioned by the Deputy under the Sports Energy Support Scheme.

Last week, Minister Catherine Martin and I announced the reopening of the application process for the Sports Energy Support Scheme with an extended eligibility period to the end of May. The re-opening of the Sports Energy Support Scheme demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to supporting our sports clubs and facilities across the country.

In relation to capital support, my Department provides grant assistance for sporting facilities through the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The 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. Details of all allocations under the SCEP can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/.

With regard to larger projects, the National Sports Policy published in 2018 provided for the establishment of the LSSIF. The aim of the fund is to provide support for larger sports facilities where the Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the SCEP. The first allocations were announced in January 2020 and approximately €86.4 million has been allocated to 33 projects to date including a number of projects which are supported by the sporting body to which the Deputy refers. The projects that received provisional allocations and the amounts provisionally awarded to them are published on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.