394. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport on behalf of a club grant application (details supplied), the reason for the delay in drawing down funds from a sports capital grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47182/26]

The club referred to by the Deputy was successful in a number of applications under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. The club has been allocated a total of €458,307 since 2004.

Under the 2017 round of funding, the club was allocated €22,500 towards upgrade of lighting.

In December 2020, my officials sent instructions to the Chief State Solicitor's office to engage with the club’s solicitor in order to progress formalities for the 2017 allocation, namely the placing of a charge on the club folio. However, while the Chief State Solicitor's Office has made multiple engagement attempts over the past six years there has been no communication from the club's solicitor.

Neither the club's 2023 allocation of €46,989 towards mower, pitch and training equipment nor its 2020 allocation of €48,818 towards replacement of astroturf require a legal charge. However, the 2017 allocation cannot proceed until the club's solicitor and the Chief State Solicitor's Office have completed the legal formalities for the placing of a charge on the club's folio.