Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 28 May 2025, the timeframe for the publication of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund reserve list for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In 2024, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage.

Grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, were allocated under the second round of the LSSIF in November 2024. With this announcement, the cumulative investment from the LSSIF since 2020 now reaches €297 million. My current focus is on ensuring delivery of projects granted funding under the first two rounds of the LSSIF and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.

Valid and eligible applications that did not receive funding under the 2024 LSSIF round are on a reserve list in the event that any additional funding becomes available. Any ordering or prioritisation of that reserve list will only be considered should additional funding become available. I would anticipate that such prioritisation of projects would be informed by alignment with the National Sporting Policy and other relevant policies such as the National Swimming Strategy.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is funding available for disability inclusion in sport at grassroots level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is a key theme. Inclusion and diversity is an absolute priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport.

Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gap between persons with either a long-term illness or a disability and those without such illness or disability. Both the Department and Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department as the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport including the promotion of sports participation at all levels, are extremely committed to making this participation gap a thing of the past.

In advancing and evolving its commitment to disability inclusion in sport, Sport Ireland set out five clear statements of commitment, with accompanying actions on the topics of Change, Communications, Access, Capacity, Leadership.

Increased funding secured for sport in Budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a Disability in Sport Lead in February of this year. The creation of the post delivered on an action set out in both the Sport Action Plan 2024-2027 and the Sport Ireland Statement and Commitment to Action in Disability Sport. This was in turn reflected in the Programme for Government.

The role has the potential to be transformational and the Disability in Sport Lead will work with National Government Bodies (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting bodies to develop and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.

Additionally, Sport Ireland allocates €1.2 million at local level to fund a national network of Sports Inclusion Disability Officers (SIDOs) aligned to each of the 29 Local Sports Partnerships in the country. The SIDOs work in a coordinating capacity with all relevant stakeholders to increase and sustain participation opportunities for all people with disabilities

Sport Ireland has allocated an additional €2.4 million for supporting disability sport focused NGBs to continue their work in this area. This investment will help ensure that anyone with a disability, at any level, grassroots and above, can avail of their absolute right to enjoy and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department’s plan to increase funding for the next round of the community sports facilities fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34987/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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 Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), benefitting over forty sports, as well as multi-sport facilities, throughout the country. This represents 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 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. The quantum of funding available will also be informed by the review of the National Development Plan which is underway.