Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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554. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of all funding and grant opportunities available to girls school age sports teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55429/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by this Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland does not provide direct funding for teams, clubs or individuals but channels the funding through the relevant National Governing Body of sport (NGB). There is no mechanism by which Sport Ireland or the Department can allocate funding to teams outside of this process. Sports teams are advised to contact their relevant NGB directly to ascertain what funding or grant supports might be available to them.

The Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Among the objectives is assisting voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, local authorities and Education and Training Boards and schools to develop high quality, accessible, safe, well-designed, sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation.

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. Details of these allocations are available on the Department's website.

The primary Departmental responsibility for the provision of funds or grants to schools for sports rests with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Youth.