Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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529. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an appeal was received (details supplied); when this club can expect to receive a decision on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44931/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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530. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an appeal was received (details supplied); when this club can expect to receive a decision on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44932/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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531. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an appeal was received (details supplied); when this club can expect to receive a decision on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44933/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 to 531, inclusive, together.

On 25 September, Minister Martin and I announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).

Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.

The deadline for appeals was 29 October and the process of reviewing the appeals is currently ongoing. All clubs will be advised of the outcome of their appeals shortly.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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532. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to examine the case of a GAA club (details supplied) who have appealed the amount they were allocated in the Sports Capital Fund which is well below the cost of completing the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44949/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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On 25 September, Minister Martin and I announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).

Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.

The deadline for appeals was 29 October and the reviewing of appeals is currently ongoing. All clubs will be advised of the outcome of their appeals shortly.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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533. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether there are funding streams available for exceptional athletes in sports that are not represented by a national governing body in Ireland, such as jiu-jitsu; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45102/24]

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 allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland channels the funding through the relevant National Governing Body of sport (NGB). There is no mechanism by which Sport Ireland can allocate funding outside of this process.

Sport Ireland provides funding directly to athletes under a variety of schemes, including the International Carding Scheme. These are NGB-led funding schemes which serve to support athletes in achieving podium success at European and world level.

Under the International Carding Scheme, Sport Ireland provides direct funding to athletes who are competing in Olympic and Paralympic events only. This is a criteria-based scheme, based on performance, and involves the setting of sport specific standards through a collaborative process between Sport Ireland and the NGBs.

Jiu-jitsu is not a Sport Ireland-recognised NGB and therefore is not eligible for funding through Sport Ireland. Unfortunately, there is no discretionary funding available to this Department through which financial assistance could be provided to athletes in sports that are not represented by a national governing body in Ireland, such as jiu-jitsu.

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