1468. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total amount of funding allocated under the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund; the total amount drawn down by successful projects to date; the percentage of the overall allocation that has been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54951/26]

1469. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide for each project approved under the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, the amount awarded; the amount drawn down to date; the percentage of funding drawn down; the current stage of delivery; the anticipated commencement date where works have not yet commenced, and the anticipated completion date, in tabular form. [54952/26]

1470. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of projects approved under the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund that have not yet drawn down any funding; the reasons for the delay in each case; and whether his Department has identified any common barriers to project delivery. [54953/26]

1471. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has considered introducing a mechanism whereby funding allocated to projects that are not in a position to commence within a reasonable timeframe could be temporarily reallocated to valid, shovel-ready projects that have completed all statutory requirements and are in a position to commence construction immediately, while preserving the original project’s eligibility should funding become available at a later stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54954/26]

1472. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a reserve list of eligible projects from the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund is maintained; if so, the criteria under which projects may be advanced from that reserve list; and whether projects capable of immediate commencement will be prioritised where funding becomes available through slower-than-anticipated drawdown or the operation of the fund’s “use it or lose it” provisions. [54955/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1468, 1469, 1470, 1471 and 1472 together.

The Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was established under the National Sports Policy to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF).

A “use it or lose it” clause was introduced in the 2024 round which stipulates that if there has been no drawdown of any part of a grant within 2-3 years (with precise timelines varying from project to project), or before a new LSSIF round is announced, the grant offer may be deemed withdrawn with each project dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

The 2024 round of LSSIF received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applicants. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage. It should be noted that, should additional funding become available, eligible applications that did not receive funding under the 2024 round and whose proposed projects align with key strategic national priorities and strategies such as the National Swimming Strategy could be considered for funding support in advance of a future round of the LSSIF.

Grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, were allocated under the second round of the LSSIF in late 2024. The cumulative investment from the LSSIF now reaches €297 million. The attached table demonstrates the position of each of the projects funded under the 2024 round of LSSIF.

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 and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.

LSSIF Grants