Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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160. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she expects to announce sports capital funding allocations to those groups that have applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37087/24]

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.

On 9 May 2024, Minister Martin and I announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round (2023) of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). The grants have been provisionally allocated to organisations across the country representing over fifty sports and activities.

On 29 May 2024, Minister Martin and I were pleased to confirm at least €250 million is to be made available for capital projects under this 2023 SCEP round. This is on foot of positive engagement on revised allocations for the National Development Plan with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., which has facilitated this largest-ever investment in sports facilities across the country.

The funding now available represents a 50% increase on the funding allocated in early 2022 under the 2020 round of the SCEP and it should mean positive allocation decisions for all valid applications under the current 2023 programme.

The assessment of funding applications for capital projects is now at an advanced stage and I expect to announce allocations in the coming weeks.