Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
603. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight mechanisms that apply within his Department to ensure that facilities supported by public funding for sport continue to operate in accordance with national participation and inclusion objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14335/26]
View answer606. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether he has reviewed the governance and access conditions attached to publicly funded sports infrastructure projects to ensure alignment with national sports policy objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14340/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 603 and 606 together.
The Government is focused on promoting life-long participation in physical activity and sport, for all sectors of society, and communities.
We are committed to a Sport for All approach aimed at ensuring that all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity regardless of age, social-economic status, disability, or membership of, for example, the LGBTI+ community, the Traveller community or other ethnic minorities. Inclusion means valuing people’s differences, making them feel welcome and respected, ensuring that they feel they belong. Sport can deliver unrivalled joy and we want everyone to experience the same inclusivity and happiness, regardless of their background.
My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
My Department's Similar Access Requirement, published on 3 April 2024, states that recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities that have been allocated public funding. Any organisation that is in receipt of LSSIF funding must have a Similar Access Policy in place.
With regard to the CSFF, all grantees must sign a declaration that, from the date of the grant, they will not deny anybody access to any facility or part of a facility for which they received a grant on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief, or membership of the Traveller or Roma community without just, reasonable and proper cause.
My Department routinely carries out compliance reviews of grant-aided projects, and participation and inclusion aspects are an important feature of those reviews.
