James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider building more 400-metre athletics track and field arenas in County Cork following the success of the athletics team at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37037/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The performance of Team Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer in Paris is to be strongly commended. All our athletes have made us proud and, with the support of their coaches, families and sporting bodies, they have brought joy and pride to the nation.

The Government is investing heavily in sport facilities to ensure that our athletes can prepare for these prestigious international sporting competitions in the best possible way. We will continue to do so in the coming years, not just in the high performance system, but also at grassroots level.

On 29 May 2024, Minister Martin and I confirmed that at least €250 million will be made available for capital projects under the 2023 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. This represents the largest-ever investment in sports facilities nationwide.

This record allocation is on the foot of positive engagement on revised allocations for the National Development Plan with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe. I expect to announce the capital allocations under the Programme soon.

The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) supports larger sports facilities where the Exchequer investment exceeds the maximum amount available under the SCEP.

Under the 2018 LSSIF round, a total of €14.3 million was awarded to Athletics Ireland and Munster Technological University community sport project on the Bishopstown campus of the university. The first two phases of the project, encompassing the sports arena and track upgrade, have been completed and the final phase will see a High Performance Athletic Centre delivered.

A number of applications have been received from County Cork under the current LSSIF round, including for athletics-related projects. Minister Martin and I intend to announce allocations of up to €120 million under the current LSSIF round in the coming period.