Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
256. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will ensure that criteria to include greater access to facilities for those with disabilities and special needs will figure highly in the next rounds of the sports capital and LSSIF schemes. [72619/25]
View answerThe Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. One of the objectives of the Fund is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups (such as people with disabilities) in the provision of sports facilities and increase female participation in sport. All projects in receipt of CSFF allocations must be accessible to people with disabilities and capital projects must conform to the seven principles of universal design and all gym equipment funded must be accessible to people with disabilities. 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.
The aim of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) is to support investment in sporting infrastructure that will reinforce the principles outlined in the Department’s National Sports Policy including increased active participation in sport by people with a disability. In considering investment in infrastructure that meets this aim, one of the main criteria on which LSSIF projects were assessed and scored was their ability to improve the quantity and quality of active participation in sport for people with a disability. Priority was given to projects that prioritised the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups including people with disabilities.
Last week, the Department published a new Disability Strategy to promote greater inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in culture and sporting activities, including communications and media supports. Its aim is to continue to support and foster independent living for people with disabilities, and to help them actively participate in an inclusive society. By providing direct investment through Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies under a newly appointed designated disability lead within Sport Ireland, this Strategy has the potential to be transformational in developing and promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.
