Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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7. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the nationwide audit of sports facilities to address shortages in areas underserved as committed to under the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8998/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is paramount to everything we do.

The need to catalogue sports facilities to address shortages in areas that are currently underserved was first raised in the National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027, which recognised the importance of having an up-to-date database of sports facilities as the basis for a more long-term planned approach to facility investment. With a clear picture of what facilities were available and where, not only would it give the public more information in making decisions, it would help inform future phases of the Community Sports Facility Fund and the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.

As for the next round of the Community Sports Facility Fund (CSFF), in line with previous rounds a review of the current funding round will be undertaken and that review will inform the timing of the next round of the CSFF. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026.

I’m glad to say that the first phase of the sports facilities database project is largely complete with the launch of the Get Ireland Active Database in October 2023. This will be followed shortly by the launch of a Get Ireland Active app which will facilitate mobile access for all to this database with the aim of helping people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels find ways to get active and take full advantage of the amenities around them.

The database includes over 13,000 opportunities to get active across the country with sports and recreation facilities, public places such as playgrounds and trails for walking, running and biking.

The database will be undergoing further development in the coming period and, in the coming weeks, Sport Ireland will be launching a promotional campaign to raise awareness of Get Ireland Active and the benefits that it can offer.