Minister Byrne announces over €37 million in funding to Major Sports Projects

Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, today (6 December 2023) announced “Top Up” grant allocations to existing projects under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 with €86.4 million subsequently awarded to 33 different projects. This additional funding amounts to a total of €37.6 million with 27 individual projects benefitting, bringing the total awarded to date to Large Scale Sport Infrastructure funded projects to €124 million.

The additional funding for projects is being provided, in response to delays experienced by grantees arising from the pandemic and construction inflation, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

The Ministers also confirmed today that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website, in due course.

For the first time, it will be a requirement for all successful applicants to publish their Similar Access Policies, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities on similar terms, in order to be eligible for a “top-up” allocation drawdown.

Minister Thomas Byrne said: “I am determined to see continued investment in sports facilities across the country in order to ensure we achieve our ambitious targets for sports participation. In recent months, I was delighted to see a number of LSSIF projects open to the public, including the Linear Walkway Project in Meath, Phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford, and the Regional Athletics Hub in Limerick. By investing in sport facilities across the country, we can best nurture our future sporting talents and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity when it comes to our health and wellbeing, and that is why I am delighted to confirm this additional investment of €37.6 million towards LSSIF funded projects. I look forward to a new round of the LSSIF opening for applications in the first half of 2024 which will provide further opportunities for positive investment in our sporting facilities.”

-ENDS- 

Notes to Editors

·      The LSSIF is the main vehicle of Government support for the development of larger sports and physical recreation facilities in the country. The Fund provides Exchequer support where the Exchequer investment is larger than the maximum grant available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.

·       LSSIF Funding is being provided under two streams;

o   Stream one funding concerns assistance in the development of detailed plans and cost effective analysis for a proposed project. 7 projects are receiving this type of funding.

o   Stream two funding provides assistance for the construction or delivery of a project. 26 projects are receiving this type of funding.

o   Of the 33 projects that have received grant funding under LSSIF since 2020, 27 applied for eligible grant funding as part of this “top-up” process (see Appendix A below)

·       Since June 2023, the Linear Walkway Project in Meath, Phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford, and the Regional Athletics Hub in Limerick have opened to the public.

·       Top-Up Process; Following engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and in recognition of challenges, such as construction inflation, officials in the Department wrote to all LSSIF grantees inviting them to apply for additional support by 4 August. To be considered for additional funding, grantees were advised that the key elements of the project should remain as set out in the original application and that priority would be given to those who provide evidence-based documentation to support their application

An assessment process was undertaken of existing LSSIF projects who applied for “top up” funding to determine how additional funding available would support the ultimate aim of advancing these projects.

·       A number of LSSIF grantees did not apply for eligible “Top-up” funding. These were:

o   Galway Regional Aquatic & Fitness Centre [Galway County Council].

o   Munster Centre of Excellence, Glanmire, Cork. [FAI].

o   Ringside Training & Education Centre, The National Stadium, Dublin. [IABA].

o   Waterpoint Aqua Park Renovation Project. [Sligo County Council].

o   Dundalk Leisure Centre. [Louth County Council].

o   Dalymount Park Redevelopment [Dublin City Council].

·       In relation to Dalymount Park, a provisional grant of €918,750 was announced in January 2020 towards the overall design cost associated with its redevelopment (at that time estimated at €2,450,000). In October 2023, Dublin City Council announced the formal lodgement of the Part 8 Planning Application for the Dalymount Park Redevelopment Project. During the top-up process, Dublin City Council engaged with the Department and signalled their intention to apply for Stream 2 funding (Construction Only), which will fall under a separate competitive application process, when a new round of the LSSIF opens for applications. Additional funding to complete Stream 1 (Design Work) was not required in this case and as this is a Stream 1 project, only Stream 1 design elements could be considered as part of this top-up process.  On this basis, the project is not listed in the allocations.

·       Grantees are required to contribute a minimum of 30% of total project costs as matched funding.

·       A new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course.

Appendix A. Allocation of Grant Funding