Large-scale sports infrastructure fund
After thanking the Tánaiste for visiting Kerry, the Deputy raised Fitzgerald Stadium and asked when the next round of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund would open. The Tánaiste said the programme was under discussion between Departments and that many allocated projects had not yet been drawn down.
I thank the Tánaiste for visiting County Kerry last Friday. It was a long day with many engagements and he met and listened to a lot of people, which I appreciate.
Comment on this
We missed Kilgarvan on this itinerary but we will get to it the next time. We visited Fitzgerald Stadium, which is the home of Kerry football. We did not get to meet the Sam Maguire Cup on this occasion but I assured the Tánaiste that the people of Kerry are giving it the best of hospitality. We did meet the Clifford brothers. The Tánaiste saw the condition of the stadium, which requires substantial investment. In that context, I want to ask him when the next round of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund will open. It is an excellent fund for projects of that scale and a stadium such as Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, the home of Kerry football, certainly would be in line for an application under the fund. It is important that the next round be progressed.
Comment on this
It was a real pleasure to spend the day with the Deputy and his team in Kerry last Friday. We did not get to Kilgarvan but we did get to Castlemaine. No visit to Kerry is complete without a visit to Castlemaine.
The large-scale sport infrastructure programme is being discussed at the moment between the Departments of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Public Expenditure and Reform. We have a difficulty in that a lot of allocations were made for some really important projects around the country but very little of that funding has been drawn down so far, largely because of the increase in construction inflation. Our first priority is to try to find additional funds to get some of those projects going. The worst thing is to allocate a lot of money and then see none of it drawn down. If we can square that circle and provide additional funding to get some of those projects going, we can then open the fund up to new applicants.
Having visited Fitzgerald Stadium with Deputy Griffin, I can see there is a major need there for capital investment. Kerry is a leading county in both sport and tourism and it needs a modern, state-of-the-art stadium. We can all agree on that. I know the people of Kerry will put money on the table and be able to raise a lot of money, but they will need a bit of help from the Government too. I think that will be forthcoming in due course.