Written answer
Sports Funding
922. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the ranking of Semple Stadium, Thurles, for major capital infrastructure works under the sports capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31695/24]
Comment on this
924. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications for the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, by county; and the amount requested to date. [31902/24]
Comment on this
938. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on funding of the regional sports centre in Mullingar. [32479/24]
Comment on this
946. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will give favourable consideration to Westmeath County Council’s application for funding towards the provision of a regional sports centre under the large-scale sports capital programme. [32932/24]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 922, 924, 938 and 946 together.
The National Sports Policy was published on 25 July 2018 and provided for a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The aim of the fund is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects. These are projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
On 26 April 2024, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under a new round of the LSSIF. The deadline for submitting applications closed on 1 July and the initial assessment of applications is now underway. It is clear that this round of the LSSIF has generated significantly more applications and a much higher volume of demand than the first round.
A total of 96 applications have been received with an overall funding demand of more than €600 million and it is intended to publish information on the applications received in the coming weeks, including the ranking preference applied to applications by local authorities or by National Governing Bodies of Sport.