Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The National Sports Policy was published in 2018 and provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. Full details of all allocations are available at:- www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/

The total amount paid out by the Department to date is €2,936,902. The amounts drawn down and the respective projects are as follows:-

· Dalymount Park Redevelopment - €180,410

· Linear Walkways & Playing Pitches, Dunboyne - €1,253,920

· Waterford GAA, Walsh Park Redevelopment - €309,110

· Newcastle West Athletics Hub - €1,193,462

It should be noted that the first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees. In view of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects that were allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions with grantees, over half of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding this year.

Minister Martin and I, together with our officials, will be working to ensure the activation of as many projects as possible.