Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
303. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport given 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Ronnie Delany winning gold in the 1500 metres at the Melbourne Summer Olympics, the facilities which are available for athletics in Arklow, County Wicklow, his home town; the support he will provide to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68583/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. Since 2015, over €13.5 million has been allocated to athletics in Wicklow including €49,700 under the 2018 round for improvements at the running track in Arklow and a further allocation of €43,704 from the 2020 round for a walking/jogging track. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026.
There have been two rounds of the LSSIF in 2018 and 2024. My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF. No decisions have yet been made regarding the next round of LSSIF but local authorities and National Governing Bodies should be considering now what projects might best be submitted for consideration in a third LSSIF round.
