Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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13. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht how nature preservation and biodiversity initiates are being developed, advanced and supported in sports clubs nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23341/23]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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22. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht how nature preservation and biodiversity initiates are being developed, advanced and supported in sports clubs nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23738/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 22 together.

Nature preservation and biodiversity initiatives go hand in hand with the wider climate change agenda and the long term sustainability of the sports sector is a key focus for me and my Department.

In its new Statement of Strategy for 2023-2027, which is expected to be approved shortly, Sport Ireland has identified sustainability as a key area of focus over the coming years. One of its key objectives will be to improve its own sustainability impact and that of the wider sport sector. Sport Ireland is committed to working with the sector to help fully consider the social and sustainability responsibilities of sport and proactively promote and respond to green agenda issues in particular climate change, carbon usage and biodiversity.

With regard to capital support, 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 final set of allocations under the latest round of the SCEP were announced at the end of 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.

In terms of eligible projects, the Programme already covers modifications to sports facilities to reduce energy consumption and restricts funding for floodlighting to LED floodlights.

A full review of the 2020 Round of the SCEP was published earlier this week and contains a specific section on Climate Action. Specifically, the Review suggests that future guides to making an application should contain links to other supports which are available for biodiversity measures and also that consideration be given to the awarding of additional marks to applications which already have biodiversity measures in place and that provide details of same as part of the application form.

My officials are now working on drafting the new “Guide to Making an Application” for the next round of the SCEP and I am hopeful that the next round will open for applications shortly.