Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an outline of the sports grant application and decision for a group (details supplied); the details of the reason this group were not awarded the equipment element of the application. [40054/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The club referred to by the Deputy was allocated €144,056 under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme). No elements of their application were deemed invalid.

The Deputy might be referring to an application from a similarly-named group in another part of the same county which was deemed invalid as the organisation did not supply the required evidence of own funding as set out in the terms and conditions of the programme.

It should be noted that the group in question was afforded a second chance to submit the corrected documentation but failed to do so. It should be further noted that the group in question has been informed by the Department of the reason why its application was deemed invalid. Details of how to appeal this decision will be issued to the group by the Department in the coming days.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason bridge, draughts and such are not considered sport and therefore ineligible for funding under local sports partnerships (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40083/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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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 recognition of sports in Ireland. Current funding allocated to Sport Ireland provides for expenditure on sports programmes, including grants to recognised National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs); Local Sports Partnerships; International Carding Scheme; and support for other sporting bodies (e.g. Olympic Federation of Ireland).

Sport Ireland operates a formal recognition process for organisations wishing to become eligible for support as Governing Bodies of Sport. The recognition criteria establish minimum requirements for all organisations wishing to apply for recognition and, in turn receive support and, where additional Sport Ireland criteria may be met, financial investment from Sport Ireland. As part of the recognition criteria, Sport Ireland must be satisfied that the activity meets the criteria for sport as outlined in the Sport Ireland Act 2015, which is adopted from the Council of Europe “Definition of Sport”. The onus is on the organisation applying for recognition to provide evidence that their activity meets the definition.

Further information on the Recognition Process and Criteria is available on the Sport Ireland website . Sport Ireland can be contacted directly by e-mail at or by telephone on 01-8608800.