Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

330. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next round of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund is due to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3994/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 4 November 2024, funding allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) were announced. The total amount of grants awarded under this second round was €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the LSSIF since the first round in 2020 now totals €297 million.

Last year the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund ('LSSIF') received an 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.

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.

The timing of a further LSSIF round will depend on the necessary funding being available and in that regard the Programme for Government confirms that the Government will maintain sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels including people with disabilities and older people.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

331. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide details of what is required to secure successful funding under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3995/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 4 November 2024, funding allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) were announced. The total amount of grants awarded under this round was €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the LSSIF since 2020 now totals €297 million.

All applications submitted under the LSSIF 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.

The Department's website (www.gov.ie/en/service/6f3f3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif-2024/) details the projects allocated funding as well as the prioritisation accorded to projects by local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport and the scoring matrix applied by the Department.