Following completion of the last, 2020, round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, 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 of the SCEP 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 terms of Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Funding, the first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees.
In view of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects that were allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions with grantees, over half of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding this year. While this progress is very welcome, these discussions also confirm that some projects in receipt of LSSIF grants may not proceed in the short to medium term. Following engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and in recognition of the challenges faced by some grantees due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the recent high level of construction inflation, officials in the Department have now written to all to all grantees inviting them to apply for additional support by 4 August 2023. To be considered for additional funding, grantees have been advised that the key elements of the project should remain as set out in the original LSSIF application and that priority will be given to applicants who provide evidence-based documentation to support their application.
Once the application deadline has passed, we will consider a further allocation, with a view to ensuring that all projects still proceeding can be completed.
In terms of current sport funding, Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the allocation of current expenditure grant funding for sport, including responsibility for establishing the criteria and terms and conditions applicable across its various funding programmes. Sport Ireland primarily channels its funding through the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport.
