Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP), all applications under the last three rounds of the SCEP were assessed in accordance with the published scoring criteria. A list of all allocations, including the three most recent rounds, is published on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/. Details of applications under the SCEP can also be found at www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/

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. It is important to note that every valid capital application under the 2020 round, including all of those from soccer clubs, received a grant offer. Accordingly, the only reason a capital application was unsuccessful under the 2020 round was if it was deemed to be invalid under the terms and conditions of the SCEP.

With regard to the 2018 round of the SCEP, for local capital applications the top 75% by score got a grant offer while all of the highest scoring regional projects received 75% of the funding sought. With regard to the 2017 round, all valid local applications received a grant offer while, for regional applications, the top scoring 66% of applications received an allocation. Accordingly, under the last three rounds of the SCEP, the vast majority of valid applications received a grant offer and the minority that did not scored relatively poorly under the agreed scoring system.

After each of the last three rounds of the SCEP, a Review was published which sets out in more detail how the grants were assessed and allocations decided. These most recent Reviews can be found on the www.gov.ie website.

With regard to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), the first call for proposals 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. Applications were accepted for design funding (Stream1) or construction funding (Stream 2). By the deadline, a total of 72 applications were submitted, 38 under Stream 1 and 34 for Stream 2. Full details of all applications are available at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/#applications-and-priorities. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals (7 Stream 1 and 26 Stream 2) Full details of all allocations are available at: www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/

The top scoring applications under each Stream were awarded grants. The scores were awarded based on factors such as the priority given to the project by the relevant NGB and/or local authority, the level of funding being provided by the project sponsor and how the project was likely to increase participation. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and it was not possible to award grants to all applicants.