Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the details for the next round of the community sports facilities fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34627/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to supporting the sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport, and fulfil their potential from grassroots right up to high performance level. We will achieve this through a number of measures including 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. This includes people with disabilities and older people.

Sport is vital to our sense of togetherness and community, from local clubs to professional and high-performance teams and athletes. The Community Sport Facilities Fund, the CSFF, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

Sports grants provide new or improved facilities helping people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport to the best of their ability in their local areas. Clubs in turn are better able to serve their communities with the help of this fund. These vital improvements will ensure that more people than ever have access to the sports they love in their local areas.

Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.

In line with previous rounds of the programme, a review of the current funding round of the CSFF will be undertaken and that review will inform the timing of the next round. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026.