Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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550. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will carry out an urgent review of the decision by his Department late in 2024 not to provide funding to a centre (details supplied) under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, examining all options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3425/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In 2024, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) received unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage.

Allocations totalling over €173m were made in respect of 35 projects. In relation to LSSIF applications which have not received an allocation, it should be noted that a reserve list is being prepared by my Department. Remaining valid applications will be assessed and placed in a prioritised order on this list and, as additional LSSIF funding becomes available, projects on the reserve list may then be funded.

In relation to the facility referred to, the LSSIF application included a significant design cost element. However ,I understand that the project is already well advanced from a design perspective. While funding towards the design costs of the facility has been provisionally allocated my Department is engaging with Donegal County Council on how to assist the project.

A key part of the assessment of applications under the 2024 round of LSSIF was the prioritisation accorded to projects by local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport. It should be noted that the project referred to by the Deputy was the second ranked priority submitted by Donegal County Council and the third ranked priority by Swim Ireland.

Under the 2024 LSSIF round, an allocation of €8.7 million in construction funding was made to the Atlantic Technological University, Donegal, for a multi sport facility which places Donegal 6th highest in terms of funding by county in the 2024 LSSIF allocations.