Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the financial supports his Department provides for development of hockey pitch facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16455/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

In 2024 €173 million was allocated from the LSSIF while over a quarter of a billion euros was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities from the CSFF. This funding represents the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.

LSSIF projects which encompass hockey pitches and were allocated funding in 2024 included Kinvara Hockey Club, East Coast Sport Hub, Wexford and Cavan Regional Sports Hub, while €2.3 million was allocated to hockey projects in 2024 from the CSFF.

I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide. The Programme for Government commits to maintaining 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, my current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.