Written answer
Sports Facilities
306. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the nationwide audit of sports facilities, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address shortages in underserved areas, including towns with populations over 1,500; whether any preliminary or final results are available for towns and villages in County Tipperary; if those results will be published on a town-by-town basis; the timeline for completion and publication of the audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48815/26]
Comment on this
The National Sports Policy 2018–2027 recognises the importance of having an up to date database of sports facilities to inform a long-term approach to investment in sports facilities across the country.
In this regard, Sport Ireland has developed the Get Ireland Active database. Get Ireland Active was launched in October 2023, representing the first phase of a comprehensive national database of sports facilities.
The database, which can be accessed by browser or a mobile app, currently consists of more than 15,000 opportunities to be active across the country, including in towns and villages in County Tipperary. These include sports and recreation facilities, public places such as playgrounds and trails for walking, running and biking.
Sport Ireland is continuing to engage with my Department, local authorities, relevant public bodies and sporting organisations to further develop the database and to ensure that it remains up to date and fit for purpose.
Further to this, a positive recent development in terms of factoring sport into long-term spatial and strategic planning is the inclusion, in regulations made under the Planning and Development Act 2024, of Sport Ireland as a statutory consultee when local authorities are reviewing their county development plans.
In this context, I understand that the Office of the Planning Regulator is liaising with Sport Ireland and some other sporting bodies to examine how local authorities can more effectively plan for the provision of sports and recreational facilities within communities.