Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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249. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is aware of the ongoing shortage of pitch availability for sports clubs throughout Dublin Bay north, particularly in areas experiencing rapid population growth; if he will engage with local authorities to identify solutions and support the development of additional playing facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18335/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sport and physical activity are hugely important to our collective wellbeing and health, so it is in our national interest to promote increased participation in sport and activity at all levels, locally and nationally.

Availability and ease of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to participation in sport. Planning for future facilities’ needs, locations and types is a particular focus of our current Sports Action Plan.

However, the use to which lands are put is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not fund the acquisition of land for sport. However, where land is in use for sport, my Department operates two relevant capital funding programmes, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). In 2024 over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities from the CSFF while grants totalling €173 million were awarded from the LSSIF. This is a an all-time record investment level in sport in Ireland.

Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider that there is real merit in the development of municipally-backed shared facilities and I encourage sports' National Governing Bodies and local authorities to collaborate in this regard.