Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
549. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total funding provided under the current sports capital funding; the focus of this year's applications by Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36599/23]
View answerThe 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 investment in disadvantaged areas.
Following completion of the appeal process for the last, 2020, round of the SCEP, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of that round. This Review is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/84105-review-of-sports-capital-and-equipment-programme-2020/.
Among the recommendations contained in the published Review is a continued prioritisation of projects that share facilities with other sports and further enhanced investment in areas of disadvantage. The Review also identifies new areas for focus including:
• an increase in thresholds for capital grants at both local and regional level
• rewarding projects which include adaptations for persons with disabilities through ring-fenced scores at assessment stage
• rewarding projects which incorporate climate action measures
• expanding the SCEP remit to include applications for upgrades to swimming pools, and
• prioritising applications from areas witnessing significant population growth.
Once the Review was finalised, I asked my officials to draft the "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round to reflect the recommendations in the Review. This work is now complete and on 12 July Minister Martin and I published the new "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round. We also announced that the Programme itself will be open for applications from 17 July until 8 September. The 2023 round opened for applications on 17 July and I look forward to seeing a high level of applications for worthwhile sports projects from right across the country.
In relation to the funding available to allocate, the total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. I will continue to engage with my Government colleagues to maximise the total funding envelope available for the Programme in the years ahead. Clearly, the level of demand will be a key determinant but every effort will be made to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible while providing a sufficient level of grant to ensure the projects are viable.
