Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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288. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is provision in the sports capital equipment programme for wheelchair lifts to promote inclusivity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31775/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of my Department's responsibilities, 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 the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups (such as people with disabilities) in the provision of sports facilities.

More information on the many items funded under the SCEP historically, which include modifications to sports facilities to improve access for people with disabilities, can be found in the 2020 Guide to Making an Application published on the Department’s website at the following location:

www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=assets.gov.ie/194842/49a7273f-0be9-4106-a40b-412461c5a8d9.pdf#page=null

It is a requirement of the SCEP that all projects must be accessible to persons with disabilities and capital projects must conform to the seven principles of universal design.

The most recent, 2020, round of the SCEP, saw funding allocated for the installation of access lifts to further inclusion of persons with disability and such funding will continue to be available to eligible applications under a future round.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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289. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she expects the sports capital programme to open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31776/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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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 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. The final allocations under the 2020 round were announced on 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. Details of all allocations can be found on the Department's website.

The priority in recent months has been to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage. This requires detailed, ongoing engagement with all grantees.

Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. This Review has now been published and is available on the Department’s website.

Among the recommendations contained in the published Review is a continued prioritisation of projects that share facilities with other sports and further enhanced investment in areas of disadvantage. The Review also identifies new areas for consideration including:

• an increase in thresholds for capital grants at both local and regional level

• rewarding projects which include adaptations for persons with disabilities through ring-fenced scores at assessment stage

• rewarding projects which incorporate climate action measures

• expanding the SCEP remit to include applications for upgrades to swimming pools, and

• prioritising applications from areas witnessing significant population growth.

Now that the Review has been published, I have asked my officials to draft the "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round to reflect the recommendations in the Review and I hope to have this finalised shortly. Once completed, the Guide will be published on my Department's website and I will then announce the exact date on which the SCEP will open for applications.