Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
36. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the timeline for the next round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund; if the review for the previous round is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64585/25]
View answer40. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the timeframe for Sports Capital Grant applications to open in 2026; the preparations required by clubs before the announcement of the next round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64368/25]
View answer46. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on when the next round of funding will be made available under the LSSIF and sports capital grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63388/25]
View answer51. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the timeline of the next round of sports capital grants; the funding expected to be made available in the next round of grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64621/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 40, 46 and 51 together.
My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Sporting organisations can apply directly for CSFF funding. Applications for LSSIF funding must be made through either a National Governing Body (NGB) of Sport or a Local Authority.
Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
In line with previous rounds of the Fund, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.
In 2024, the second round of LSSIF received an unprecedented demand for funding. On 4 November 2024, grants totalling €173 million were awarded to 35 projects. As a result of the significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage.
My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. No decisions have yet been made regarding the next round of LSSIF.
