11. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the timeframe for when the next sports capital grant applications will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10207/25]

Sentiment score: 0.13

I have a query about the timescale. It is about sports organisations' planning. In the Minister of State's reply, he said the next round will start in 2026. When in 2026 will it be? Is it going to be in the first or second quarter? This is about organisations preparing plans and making sure they have gone through the whole planning process. It is about target dates. The Minister of State also raised the issue of disadvantaged areas but I am not clear that we are putting enough effort in to giving funding to disadvantaged areas. We have a problem in that we do not have the expertise in some areas to fill out applications and we do not have any scheme in place to assist organisations in those areas with making those applications. It is extremely important to ensure in the next round of grant applications that support mechanisms are put in place to help those disadvantaged areas.

Sentiment score: 0.01

Regarding disadvantaged areas, while there are some in my constituency of Cork North-Central on the northside of the city, in fairness to all of the sporting organisations and the local authorities, they have been very proactive about grants. However, I did come across difficulties in Dublin. For instance, one of projects in which I was involved was the opening of Merchant's Quay supervised injection facility, and in that whole area of Dublin there are no facilities of any description for young people. There is a primary school in the area attended by a lot of young people but they have no facilities of any description. That is the kind of thing I am talking about, where we need to open up to those areas that have not received any kind of funding over the past 15 or 20 years. It is something the Department needs to consider.

Sentiment score: -0.11