Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
288. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is provision in the sports capital equipment programme for wheelchair lifts to promote inclusivity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31775/23]
View answerIn terms of my Department's responsibilities, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups (such as people with disabilities) in the provision of sports facilities.
More information on the many items funded under the SCEP historically, which include modifications to sports facilities to improve access for people with disabilities, can be found in the 2020 Guide to Making an Application published on the Department’s website at the following location:
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=assets.gov.ie/194842/49a7273f-0be9-4106-a40b-412461c5a8d9.pdf#page=null
It is a requirement of the SCEP that all projects must be accessible to persons with disabilities and capital projects must conform to the seven principles of universal design.
The most recent, 2020, round of the SCEP, saw funding allocated for the installation of access lifts to further inclusion of persons with disability and such funding will continue to be available to eligible applications under a future round.
