Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

373. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to detail the actual draw down of funds by successful applicants, for each year from 2019 to May 2024, and to date in 2025, under the large scale sports infrastructure funding programme, and list the projects and amounts, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28408/25]

Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

374. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding the €173 million allocated to successful applicants in the large scale sports infrastructure funding in 2024, the amount that is forecast and budgeted to be drawn down, for each year from 2025 to 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28409/25]

Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

375. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is a deadline or timeline for the drawdown of funds awarded in the 2024 large scale sports infrastructure round of funding; if there are time-specific key performance indicators that must be met; if there is a cutoff date by which the funds must be drawn down and used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/25]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 374 and 375 together.

The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was established to provide exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the Community Sports Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme). The first round of allocations were made from the fund in 2019.

In 2023, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, additional funding for 2019 LSSIF grantees was secured. This additional funding was secured in recognition of the delivery challenges faced by some grantees from the 2019 round due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the high level of construction inflation. Many grantees were successful in both securing additional external funding and tailoring their projects in response to these challenges.

In total almost €124 million was allocated under the 2019 round of LSSIF including the additional funding secured in 2023. To date €32,072,302 has been drawn down by projects funded under the 2019 round of LSSIF. Details on payments made under the first round of LSSIF between 2021 and 2024 are available at the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/services/large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif-2018/#payments

Expenditure in 2025 is as follows:

In November 2024, LSSIF grants totalling €173 million and benefiting 35 individual projects were allocated. All allocations are subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Grantees under the LSSIF 2024 programme are currently engaging in the approval process required under the Guidelines.

There is €28.776 million allocated for the Fund in 2025 and it is anticipated that this will be fully expended. Future allocations from 2026-29 will depend on the rate of progress on individual projects as well as the NDP Review currently being carried out by Government.

My Department will closely monitor delivery of projects and failure to progress projects within the required timeframe may lead to a withdrawal of funding.