89. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the application process under the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) will be simplified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44613/26]

91. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the expected timeline for the opening of the next Community Sports Facilities Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44522/26]

97. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) will become open for applications; whether the cap on local grants will be increased from €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44612/26]

98. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on when he expects the latest round of Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to open for applications. [44495/26]

99. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme will open for applications; the level of funding that will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44286/26]

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider increasing the level of grant aid in the next Community Sports Facilities Fund taking into account the substantial increase in construction costs since the last round of grants were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44523/26]

110. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he expects to open up the Community Sport Facilities Fund for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44457/26]

112. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the forthcoming round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, including the anticipated budget allocation; the administrative resources within his Department dedicated to the scheme; the types of projects he intends to prioritise under the next round of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44337/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 91, 97, 98, 99, 109, 110 and 112 together.

The Programme for Government commits to continuing the Community Sport Facilities Fund, the CSFF, and to directing its funding to disadvantaged areas and groups that are currently under-represented in terms of participation.

My Department’s Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 commits to continuing to invest in sports infrastructure at a local, regional and national level through the CSFF and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund. These funds will be critical to advancing delivery of high-quality sport facilities and equipment over the lifetime of the Strategy.

Infrastructure is key to sporting participation and success, and we will continue to invest in sports infrastructure at local, regional and national levels through the CSFF. These funds will be critical to advancing delivery of high-quality, accessible and sustainable sport facilities and equipment which will ensure the development of a sporting ecosystem that enables more people - including people with disabilities, older people and people from disadvantaged communities - to participate and benefit from sport at all levels.

The CSFF is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national levels throughout the country. The fund 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 CSFF, previously known as the Sports Capital and Equipment programme, has 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. I am committed to opening a new CSFF round this summer.

More than 19,000 projects have benefited from CSFF funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to approximately €1.43 billion. The fund has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities that have been funded range from the smallest clubs to national centres of sporting excellence.

In line with previous rounds of the CSFF, I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026 which I expect to open soon. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.

The Department is currently collating feedback from sporting clubs and organisations which provides valuable input to our ongoing preparations for the next round. This includes, inter alia, considering the impact of the increase in costs since allocations under the most recent CSFF round in 2024. New guidelines will be published in advance of the opening of the next round which will include eligibility, likely assessment criteria and maximum grant amounts for the next round.

My aim is to have as many eligible sporting bodies as possible applying, by simplifying the application process and guide, and carrying out a wide-reaching communications campaign.

Many clubs are relying on volunteers, and I anticipate that a revised application and assessment process which is being developed by my officials, will make it easier and quicker for applicants to navigate the system at all stages, as well as allowing for quicker turn-around times while also streamlining the workload for my Department.

The administrative resources within my Department dedicated to the next round of the CSFF will be determined by the volume of applications. My officials, as always, will be available to assist applicants throughout the process from application to final payment stages.

All registered organisations on my Department's grant management system will be automatically notified when a new round of CSFF is open for applications. It is important to note that the CSFF is currently temporarily closed for registrations in order to facilitate migration to a new IT system. Organisations that are currently registered will automatically transfer to the new portal. The new system portal will be launched and open to new registrations in the coming weeks. Further details on this will be published and communicated broadly.

No decisions have been made on the quantum of funding to be made available for another round of the CSFF and any decisions in this regard will be subject to the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

With regard to a future round of the LSSIF, I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide. The Programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels.

My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.