Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
49. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the sports capital grants available to sports clubs that do not own or have ability to purchase land or are in a long-term lease; if schemes will be considered for these clubs to help them become established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32982/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to supporting local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help build liveable communities.
While neither of my Department's sports capital funding programmes - the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) - provide for the acquisition of land I would be supportive of local authority acquisition of lands for sport and recreation purposes. I intend to engage with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in due course on the Programme for Government commitment. Once lands are acquired for sporting purposes, applications for capital investment (including equipment) on those lands can be supported via both the CSFF and the LSSIF.
In line with previous rounds of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), a review of the current funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years. My Department is aiming to announce the opening of applications in the first half of this year.
In terms of LSSIF, my current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.
