Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2024
173. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to review a query for a club (details supplied); to advise the club on any grants which could help it obtain this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24467/24]
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.
Storage units are eligible for funding under the SCEP. Portable storage containers/sheds of up to 25 square metres are classified as equipment and larger modular buildings that require planning permission and/or foundations are considered capital works and require proof of title.
On 9 May 2024, Minister Martin and I announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. The grants have been provisionally allocated to organisations across the country and to over fifty sports and activities.
Minister Martin and I were pleased to confirm yesterday that at least €250 million is to be made available for the 2023 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. This is on foot of positive recent enagement on revised allocations for the National Development Plan with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., which has facilitated this largest-ever investment in sports facilities across the country.
The funding now available represents a 50% increase on the funding allocated in early 2022 under the 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and it should mean positive allocation decisions for all valid applications under the current 2023 Programme. I expect allocations to be announced by Autumn.
