Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has had any recent engagement with the FAI regarding its search for a new location for a centre of excellence in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52197/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Community Sport Facilities Fund is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assists the purchase of non- personal sports equipment.

The Fund operated on an annual basis from 1998 up to, and including, 2008. It subsequently resumed in 2012 with rounds in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2023. The Fund has evolved over the years, with increasing amounts of funding being made available to support community sports initiatives.

In the 2023 round, a total €277,924,553 was allocated to 3,046 sports clubs and facilities, benefitting over forty sports, as well as multi-sport facilities, throughout the country representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. In the past 10 years over €600m has been allocated from the various rounds of the Fund.

In relation to local applications, given the scale of funding available and the time required to assess the applications, it was agreed that officials would focus on the validity of applications, on ruling out invalid applications or elements thereof. Recommended allocation amounts for valid applications were then calculated using the Pobal index of deprivation as the primary calculation factor.

The 500 applications from the most disadvantaged areas received a minimum of 90% of their maximum valid grant and only 1 application received less than 50% of the maximum valid grant.

Over 19,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.4 billion. Grants under the Fund have directly improved sports facilities in every village, town and city in the country.

In line with previous rounds of the Fund, a review of the current funding round is currently being undertaken, with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the Fund and the processes arising for future calls. It is envisaged that the review will be completed in quarter 1 of 2026 and this will inform the timing of the next round of the CSFF. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when details of the next community sport facilities fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52595/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Sport Facilities Fund is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assists the purchase of non- personal sports equipment.

The Fund operated on an annual basis from 1998 up to, and including, 2008. It subsequently resumed in 2012 with rounds in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2023. The Fund has evolved over the years, with increasing amounts of funding being made available to support community sports initiatives.

In the 2023 round, a total €277,924,553 was allocated to 3,046 sports clubs and facilities, benefitting over forty sports, as well as multi-sport facilities, throughout the country representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. In the past 10 years over €600m has been allocated from the various rounds of the Fund.

In relation to local applications, given the scale of funding available and the time required to assess the applications, it was agreed that officials would focus on the validity of applications, on ruling out invalid applications or elements thereof. Recommended allocation amounts for valid applications were then calculated using the Pobal index of deprivation as the primary calculation factor.

The 500 applications from the most disadvantaged areas received a minimum of 90% of their maximum valid grant and only 1 application received less than 50% of the maximum valid grant.

Over 19,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.4 billion. Grants under the Fund have directly improved sports facilities in every village, town and city in the country.

In line with previous rounds of the Fund, a review of the current funding round is currently being undertaken, with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the Fund and the processes arising for future calls. It is envisaged that the review will be completed in quarter 1 of 2026 and this will inform the timing of the next round of the CSFF. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026.