Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

217. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether any contact has been made by Dublin City Council with her officials, or applications made by them to the sports capital grant scheme, in relation to addressing the lack of sports facilities, in particular grass or synthetic full size pitches in the Liberties area of Dublin, as highlighted by the Sporting Liberties collective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4920/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications, exceeds the record number submitted under the previous (2020) round.

The "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with the full list of all applications received by county and the relevant sport type for each application received. Dublin City Council has submitted a number of applications, including one in respect of St Catherine's Sports Centre in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties area of Dublin. A number of sports clubs that are part of the Sporting Liberties collective have also made individual applications.

The detailed assessment work has commenced and it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 across its various programmes. Sport Ireland provides core funding to the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), in this case the Irish Ice Hockey Association.

The Irish Ice Hockey Association should accordingly contact Sport Ireland to see what financial support may be available.

Unfortunately, there is no discretionary funding available to my Department through which financial assistance could be provided.