Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an appeal by a club (details supplied) was received; when this club can expect to receive a decision on their appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45661/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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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 Department received an appeal from this club within the deadline. The process of reviewing the appeals is currently ongoing. All clubs will be advised of the outcome of their appeals shortly.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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194. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide details as to the reason the application made for the new stadium for a club (details supplied) was not approved under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45690/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On Monday, 4 November, Minister Martin and I announced the second round of funding allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This follows the first LSSIF round of allocations announced in January 2020. The total amount of grants awarded is €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, and a diversity of sports. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund since 2020 now stands at €297 million.

All applications submitted under the LSSIF Fund were required to have the prioritised endorsement of a National Governing Body for Sport (NGB) or of a local authority. This prioritisation was one of a number of factors taken into account in the assessment and ultimate ranking of projects. The assessment and ultimate ranking of project was also informed by factors such as the potential to enhance sports participation, sustainability, similar access for both men and women, and the ability to execute the project within a specified timeframe.

In respect of prioritisation, the project in question was ranked third in priority by Louth County Council and ranked fourth in priority by the FAI. It should be noted that prioritisation is strictly a matter for the local authority and/or NGB concerned.

In relation to LSSIF applications which have not received an allocation, it should be noted that a reserve list is being prepared by the Department, on which all remaining valid applications will be assessed and placed in a prioritised order such as this project. As additional LSSIF funding becomes available, projects on the reserve list should then be able to be funded.

I can confirm that the application in question is valid. As I have publicly stated, this is a strong proposal, it is valid, and when further progress happens in relation to it - including an application for and grant of planning permission - and as funding becomes available, it should then be able to be funded. I met with the Chairperson of the club in question since the announcement of allocations under the second round of the LSSIF and informed him of this.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason an applicant under the Sport Capital Programme was not successful (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45818/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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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 Department received an appeal from this organisation within the deadline. The process of reviewing the appeals is currently ongoing. All clubs will be advised of the outcome of their appeals shortly.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons an applicant under the Sport Capital Programme was not successful (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45976/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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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 Department received an appeal from this organisation within the deadline. The process of reviewing the appeals is currently ongoing. All clubs and organisations will be advised of the outcome of their appeals shortly.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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197. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the match funding arrangements that will be required of successful applicants under the LSSIF announced recently; if different levels will apply to different projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45977/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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On Monday last, 4 November, Minister Martin and I announced the second round of funding allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This follows the first LSSIF round of allocations announced in January 2020.

The total amount of grants awarded in round 2 is €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund since 2020 now stands at €297 million.

All applications submitted under the LSSIF Fund were required to have the prioritised endorsement of a National Governing Body for Sport (NGB) or a local authority. This prioritisation was one of a number of factors taken into account in the assessment and ultimate ranking of projects. The assessment and ranking of projects was also informed by factors such as the potential to enhance sports participation, sustainability, similar access for both men and women, and the ability to execute the project within a specified timeframe.

Applicants to the Fund were required to contribute a minimum of 30% of total project costs as match funding. The published guide to applicants stated that "Match funding may be in the form of a combination of wider Exchequer and/or State sector capital expenditure, local authority investment, community investment, philanthropic contributions and private sector investment. Cash-based own funding will receive more favourable assessment. Projects that provide in excess of 30% cash based own funding will also receive more favourable consideration."

The amount of own funding being contributed by applicants under this recent round varied among applicants with some projects committing to own funding contributions significantly in excess of 30%.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason Portlaoise was not included in the major sports projects announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46005/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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On Monday, 4 November, Minister Martin and I announced the second round of funding allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This follows the first LSSIF round of allocations announced in January 2020. The total amount of grants awarded is €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund since 2020 now stands at €297 million.

All applications submitted under the LSSIF Fund were required to have the prioritised endorsement of a National Governing Body for Sport (NGB) or of a local authority. This prioritisation was one of a number of factors taken into account in the assessment and ultimate ranking of projects. It was informed by factors such as the potential to enhance sports participation, sustainability, similar access for both men and women, and the ability to execute the project within a specified timeframe.

In relation to LSSIF applications which have not received an allocation, it should be noted that a reserve list is being prepared by the Department, on which all remaining valid applications will be assessed and placed in a prioritised order. As additional LSSIF funding becomes available, projects on the reserve list should then be able to be funded.