Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 October 2025
30. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the plans to reopen the large-scale sport infrastructure fund; and if he will ensure that the criteria will allow for local authorities to secure funding for public swimming pools in towns such as Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. [52396/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
The LSSIF is aimed primarily at local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). The 2024 round of the LSSIF was also open to other bodies, such as sports clubs, voluntary organisations, Education and Training Boards and third level institutions to apply with applications to be submitted and prioritised by a local authority and/or an NGB. The LSSIF did not receive an application for funding for a swimming pool at Carrickmacross.
In previous rounds of LSSIF, priority was given to projects that were identified as a priority within a local authority’s development plan and strategic vision, demonstrating cross sector collaboration and clearly identified local priorities. All project applications were subject to the Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines published on the Department’s website. The full marking scheme and assessment process for “LSSIF 2018 and LSSIF 2024” is published on the Department’s website.
I would encourage any prospective applicants to review the LSSIF scheme guidelines and key priorities as part of their preparatory process for a future LSSIF round. It is important to note that while these resources can serve as a helpful reference, any new guidelines and conditions associated with a future round of the programme may differ from those previously published.
Currently, LSSIF is closed to applications and the key focus at the moment is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, This process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. The timing will also be considered in the context of the determining the detailed spending allocations within my Department under the National Development Plan as recently agreed by Government. I would anticipate that such prioritisation of projects would be informed by alignment with the National Sporting Policy and other relevant policies such as the National Swimming Strategy.
