Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
660. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether there has been an update regarding a lease extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34965/26]
View answerThe club referred to by the Deputy was allocated €70,000 in 2017 and €124,016 in 2020 from the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF). The club was unsuccessful in its application for funding under the 2023 round as it had reached the maximum amount that could be allocated to it over a five year period, per the rules of the Fund. The guide to the 2023 round stated:
"If your landlord is not entitled to apply for SCEP funding, and if you do not own your land or do not have a registered lease with at least 15 years remaining you may only apply for a maximum of €70,000 towards capital works. However, if in 2017, 2018, or 2020 you received a capital grant towards this site, the maximum combined value of grants, including any 2023 grant, is €70,000. This only applies where the applicant has sole occupancy of the premises (i.e. we cannot accept applications from a club that makes use of another club’s facilities, instead the application should come from the owners themselves)."
In line with previous rounds of the CSFF, a review of the current funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly. I have asked my Department to prepare for a 2026 round of the CSFF in the first half of this year. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.
