Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next round of the large scale sport infrastructure fund will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9758/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was established under the National Sports Policy, published on 25 July 2018, to provide exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund. The total investment in the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund currently stands at €297 million, with funding allocations provided to 68 large-scale projects.

The second round of the LSSIF, which was launched in April 2024, received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 submissions. On 4 November 2024, grants totalling €173 million were announced, benefiting 35 individual projects. Due to the significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage. 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.

The timing of a further round of the LSSIF 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.

However, in 2025, my key focus for LSSIF will be to see projects continue to move to implementation and funding drawdown phases in as timely a manner as possible.