Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I note that the organisation referred to by the Deputy is enquiring regarding support to compensate for lost income due to poor weather conditions. My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (the “SCEP”) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (the “LSSIF”). The 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.

While the Government provided significant funding support to National Governing Bodies of sport during Covid-19 to assist them and their clubs to survive the operational impacts of the pandemic, my Department does not have a funding stream to compensate sports clubs for lost income due to inclement weather.

The 2023 round of the SCEP closed for applications on 8 September 2023. A record number of 3,210 applications was received under the 2023 round, including an application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. I also understand that the organisation received an allocation of €38,846 in the 2020 SCEP towards mower and course drainage works. The grant is formally approved and yet to be drawn down. If the organisation wishes to advance its approved grant it should contact my Department via email at sportscapitalprogrammes@tcagsm.gov.ie.