Sports Facilities

124. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to parliamentary question No. 44338/26 of 11 June 2026, and his statement that “projects that are not moving forward will have to be taken off the books so new ones can be considered”, whether any projects have since been removed from consideration under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund; the amount of funding involved; and whether that funding is to be reallocated. [74009/26]

I am taking this question on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. Further to parliamentary question No. 44338/26 of 11 June 2026, and the Minister's statement that “projects that are not moving forward will have to be taken off the books so new ones can be considered”, Deputy O'Sullivan is asking whether any projects have since been removed from consideration under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, the amount of funding involved and whether that funding can be reallocated.

Under the 2018 round of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, a total of €124 million was awarded to 33 projects between initial allocations in early 2020 and subsequent top-ups to projects in 2023. Kilkenny Local Authorities Leisure Complex Limited received an allocation of €2.17 million in respect of The Watershed under LSSIF 2018 between initial allocation and top-up funding. In early 2025, the local authority undertook a value-engineering exercise to address project cost increases. The allocation was subsequently withdrawn after the grantee advised that it could no longer proceed with the project in the absence of further funding from Kilkenny County Council to meet the significant increase in overall project cost. The withdrawn funding was reallocated to address capital requirements for the Galway regional aquatic centre which was also allocated LSSIF funding in 2020 but had not received a top-up allocation in 2023. Specifically, a €3.25 million top-up allocation was allocated to Galway City Council in May 2026 to close the funding deficit to ensure delivery of the project. The 2024 round of LSSIF received unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million worth of applications from 96 applicants. Grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, were allocated. A use-it-or-lose-it clause was introduced in the 2024 round which stipulated that if there has not been drawdown of part of a grant within two to three years 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. As we are not at the end of that two- to three-year period, no funding has been withdrawn to date from projects allocated funding under the 2024 LSSIF round. At present, 33 out of the 35 projects are at various stages of assessment with two having progressed to construction stage.

I welcome the Minister of State's positive response. It is quite a difficult scenario. On the one hand, there are projects that may be delayed and it is not the fault of the clubs. There could be issues with contractors, procurement and the price that was given and the price now. On the other hand, there are really worthy projects still waiting for funding. Some projects are being held up while others are stalled. The Minister of State's answer gives clarity on the situation. I will relay that to our colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. I do not need any further information from the Minister of State.

The objective from a Government point of view is to make sure all of these projects move forward. We are in constant communication with all of the applicants from the 2020 round as well as the 2024 round to make sure they push on and are dealt with. From a Government capital point of view, we are spending all of the capital we have been allocated under the national development plan. We are making sure it is spent every year between the LSSIF, the community sports facility fund and the developments in the national sports campus such as the velodrome and badminton centre and the cricket ground. We will provide for every project as quickly as they can move, as we have done up to now. We want to see them all move. We do not want to be in a situation where they are being withdrawn. We will not have a situation where one project not moving forward sees anywhere else suffer. That has not been the case up to now. We want to be in a position in 2028 to open a new round to see new projects be able to fly and move forward.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Táim fíorbhuíoch as sin. I would like to add that I appreciate the effort and work the Minister of State is putting in as the Minister of State with responsibility for sport. I have seen it at first hand in Kildare. I thank him for the amount of work and effort he is putting in. He is travelling all around the country meeting clubs. It is much appreciated.

The Deputy is travelling around the country tonight himself, taking Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan's question in relation to Cork. I am aware of the particular project he is dealing with and referred to which we want to see move on. This community sports facilities round will be an important opportunity for clubs. From a Government point of view, we have seen a significant increase in prioritisation of funding for sports clubs. The most recent round had €270 million, benefiting over 3,000 clubs. The round two years before that had €170 million and the round two years before that had €70 million. The Deputy can see the massive increase in prioritisation we are putting in. We want to see a round this time that benefits across the country, including Kildare and other parts of the country, and sees more and more people getting to enjoy the benefits sport can have for their health as well as their well-being and, indeed, the well-being of the communities in which they are residing. I look forward to working with Deputy Ó Cearúil and others to try to make sure we have the biggest impact we can from this round.