8. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagements he and his Department have had with local authorities and national sporting bodies to ensure local sports clubs are supported in applying for available grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32806/26]

Sentiment score: 0.25

Will the Minister of State outline the engagements he and his Department have had with local authorities and national sporting bodies in advance of the forthcoming round of sports capital grants?

Sentiment score: 0.36

I welcome that engagement. I want to highlight an issue particularly in cities. Often within cities land is the key issue. There might be land owned by one party and then there is a club or sporting body. That needs a degree of co-ordination. Of specific concern to me is that co-ordination and bringing parties together is not being done on a structured level. I have done it in my own communities where I have tried to bring different parties together. Dublin City Council’s parks have so much potential across the city. I am not certain that at a senior level in the city council the opportunity of the sport facilities grant is being taken serious in regard to all-weather pitches. There are parks right across my area that have the potential. There is already the example in Finglas west, the Kildonan model, where two soccer clubs have joint access to a new all-weather facility. I want to see that in parks right across Dublin City Council. That involves Dublin City Council leading the charge.

Sentiment score: 0.22

I welcome what the Minister of State is saying. When the sports capital grant opens, it is almost too late to start to bring together parties in that way. That is why the city council has such an opportunity to lead on this. I am looking at a park like Albert College, for example. Many soccer clubs but also GAA clubs really need somebody to bring them together and to put that package together on city council land in a park. I am thinking of clubs like Glasnevin FC, which really wants an all-weather facility in Albert College. There are other parks like Johnstown Park or Poppintree Park in my area that could do with all-weather facilities. We know these pitches are used widely at the moment but the wet weather that we have often reduces the amount of usage that they get. Our public parks are for everybody and we do not want to see public parks losing space, but a well co-ordinated plan and better co-ordination with the Department of heritage about brent geese needs to happen. I ask the Minister of State to reach out to Dublin City Council and ask it what its intention is this year, because I am fearful that it will not be substantial or ambitious enough.

Sentiment score: 0.31