Written answers
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Sports Funding
Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the large-scale sport infrastructure fund will be launched; if she will outline the guidelines for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16788/24]
Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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20. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the new round of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17040/24]
Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 20 together.
Minister Martin and I confirmed on 6 December 2023 that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course. While this programme is aimed primarily at the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply but such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or a national governing body.
On 3 April Minister Martin and I published the ‘Review of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund’ and the new ‘Similar Access Requirement’. The review outlines the issues faced by LSSIF projects to date, and provides recommendations in relation to a new round of LSSIF. The five recommendations include population and sustainability criteria, reducing administrative overheads, the level of grant aid funding required to deliver projects, similar access for men and women and guiding principles in respect of Stadiums and Large-Scale Sports Facilities.
The new Similar Access Requirement necessitates that recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities that have been allocated public funding. Any organisation that is in receipt of LSSIF funding must have a similar access policy in place.
It is hoped that the terms and conditions for a new round of the LSSIF 2024 will be published next month. While intending applicants can review the guidelines and conditions of the programme from LSSIF 2018, these are subject to change in LSSIF 2024. It should also be noted that the scheme does not allow for the purchase of land or buildings.
I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens.
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