1508. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the specific agreed mechanisms between his Department, the Department of Education and Youth, the NDFA, and PPP consortia to facilitate joint applications for the Community Sport Facilities Fund between local sports clubs and PPP schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56708/26]

The provision of sports facilities in school settings is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Youth and school governing authorities.

My Department's Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. A key objective of the CSFF is to maximise participation in sport and physical recreation across the entire community. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.

Joint applications require formal facility-sharing arrangements, ensuring the new or refurbished facilities are used by the sports club and wider community throughout the year, especially outside of school hours. This aligns with the fund's objective of increasing overall participation in sport and physical activity.

Over €16.5 million was allocated to 111 school applications with a sports club as joint applicant in the 2023 CSFF round.

The Department is currently collating feedback from sporting clubs and organisations which provides valuable input to our ongoing preparations for the next round of the CSFF, which I expect to open soon. I have also recently met with officials from the Department of Education and Youth to discuss how the benefits for sporting organisations and schools from working together on CSFF applications can be optimised.

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.