Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
177. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the actions he is taking to expand investment in community sports facilities, grassroots clubs and shared school and community sports infrastructure; the way in which funding under existing capital programmes is being prioritised to address gaps in provision in densely populated urban constituencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16766/26]
View answerMy Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Sporting organisations can apply directly for CSFF funding while applications to the LSSIF must be made through either a National Governing Body (NGB) of Sport or a Local Authority. In 2024 over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities from the CSFF while grants totalling €173 million were awarded from the LSSIF. This is a an all-time record investment level in sport in Ireland.
Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards and schools are eligible to apply to my Department's Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) jointly with sports clubs. Such applications must provide evidence of facility-sharing arrangements that will allow sports clubs to use the proposed facilities throughout the year when not in use by the school. There are no plans to change this given the existing demands on the CSFF.
Availability and ease of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to participation in sport. Planning for future facilities’ needs, locations and types is a particular focus of our current Sports Action Plan.
However, the use to which lands are put is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not fund the acquisition of land for sport.
Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider that there is real merit in the development of municipally-backed shared facilities and I encourage sports' National Governing Bodies and local authorities to collaborate in this regard.
