I thought it was the next question, which is in the Deputy's name. I thank Deputy O'Meara very much for raising the matter this evening. We both know that inclusion and diversity in sport are key priorities for this Government. Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gap between persons with either a long-term illness or a disability and those without an illness or a disability. The Irish Sports Monitor survey reports that this participation gap stands at 32%, which is quite large. It is clear that more work needs to be done to make this participation gap a thing of the past. Increased funding of €1 million was allocated in budget 2025 to establish a new and dedicated disability in sport funding stream. Sport Ireland appointed a disability in sport lead in February of last year who is now collaborating with national governing bodies, local sports partnerships and other funded organisations to develop programmes to promote accessibility and participation for individuals with disabilities. To highlight this progress, the first-ever Sport Ireland disability in sport week took place in December 2025. The theme was Celebrating Ability or Ag Ceiliúradh Cumas. Sport Ireland worked with a wide range of stakeholders to promote progress made under the five pillars of its disability inclusion in sport policy: leadership, capacity, communication, change and access. In addition, Sport Ireland allocates €1.2 million at local level on behalf of the Government to fund a national network of sports inclusion disability officers aligned to each of the 29 local sports partnerships. Sport Ireland allocates €2.4 million in support of disability sport-focused national governing bodies to continue their work in this area. Capital support for the development of sports facilities and infrastructure is provided through my Department’s community sports facilities fund and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund. Both funds include specific criteria encouraging applications that improve accessibility and inclusion.
Sentiment score: 0.31
The Deputy is right to focus on it. We have seen progress on the participation of those with a disability in sport but the gap has not narrowed because participation has also increased among the general adult and child populations, for which we can be thankful. The gap has remained, however. It is a particular focus for the Government. We are going to look to see how we can address that gap further because it is simply not acceptable that people who have a disability or illness are not being given the opportunity to participate in sport in the same way as others. We are particularly focused on that. Over the last ten years, we have made great progress on the gap between genders, between women and men. That has now almost closed. Sport Ireland appointed a lead for women in sport, which made a significant impact. We have now done the same for disabilities and I think that will also make an impact. We must all work with those clubs and sporting organisations that are doing really strong work to address this gap. It is very important that people have the opportunity to participate in sport in their local community, regardless of their ability or disability.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank Deputies O'Meara, Byrne and Ó Murchú. The Deputies have put an emphasis on access and support for those with disabilities. The Government is very focused on making progress in this area. Budget 2025 was the first to provide specific disability funding to national governing bodies through Sport Ireland. That was important. We have seen the appointment of a Sport Ireland disability lead, which is really important. We have also seen funding for each of our 29 sports partnerships across the country to employ officers to work with sporting organisations in each partnership area to ensure opportunities are in place. As each of the Deputies has described, it is wonderful and inspiring to go to a club and see children or people of any age with a disability or illness participating in sport. It gives a wonderful sense of energy and opportunity. Those opportunities might not be as plentiful for them as they are for people who do not have a disability. We need to work together collectively to support more and more of those opportunities so that participation gap continues to close and we see more and more people get those opportunities in every community right across the country. I thank the Deputy for raising this here today.
Sentiment score: 0.46
I thank Deputy O'Meara for raising this and for his advocacy on behalf of clubs in his constituency. As he will know, the programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels. The community sport facilities fund provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Its purpose is to develop high-quality, accessible, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation. Over 19,000 projects have benefited from the fund to the tune of over €1.4 billion since it was first established in 1998. Over €250 million was allocated in the most recent round with over 3,000 clubs benefiting from that, representing the largest ever investment in sports facilities. Over 40 different sports benefited from the fund as well. The objective now in the plan - I know Deputy O’Meara’s key question is when the next one will be - is to be able to support those clubs that need support. We plan to have completed another round of the community sports facility fund by the end of this year, opening up in early summer with applications over the course of the summer and with the aim of having decisions made by the end of the year. I am also currently inviting sporting organisations to information and consultation evenings on the community sports facilities fund. We will be in Kilkenny. The Deputy tends to north-west Kilkenny very well, I know. I will be there on Thursday night. We will be seeing some clubs on Tuesday night in Wexford with the Deputy’s colleague, Deputy Malcolm Byrne. This is about helping to prepare clubs for the next round and also to gain their feedback on what is most important for them and where they are finding the pressures, so we can make sure that the next round is tailored to best support clubs at ground level in terms of the phenomenal work they do providing facilities in communities.
Sentiment score: 0.23
It is certainly my objective and that of the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, in terms of the next round to make sure that we have it as amenable to clubs as possible and as practical as possible for them to be able to apply. Last time around with the appeals, almost all of the clubs that applied were supported. They were given the opportunity through the appeals process to have any issues corrected. The objective here has to be to work to make sure that clubs get the support they need, not to exclude them from it. That will be the objective again. As we gather information and feedback from around the country in advance of the next round opening, we will be listening to what people are saying to make sure that it works. Obviously, it has to be a robust and effective application system. We want to make sure it is as practical as possible and also that clubs of all sizes do not feel intimidated by the process, and that they do apply. As I travel the country, I rarely come across a club anywhere that is not under pressure for space. That is a reflection of the success of the great work the volunteers and clubs are putting in. It also puts an onus on us to support them in developing those facilities to meet the demand they are creating.
Sentiment score: 0.47
I look forward to seeing Deputy O'Meara in Tipperary. He has been speaking to me about that already. In response to Deputy Byrne, the objective will be to ensure we are looking to see where the need is greatest. We are gathering that information at the moment to make sure that, when the round is announced, it is focusing on the areas of greatest need. Having said that, I think we would all accept that the great work that is happening in clubs is putting pressure on space and capacity at all levels. We need to work to support all sports and all clubs, particularly focusing on those where the pressures are particularly acute. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú on the large-scale infrastructure fund, we have funding under the national development plan to run another round over the course of this Government. We do not have a date yet for when that will be. The focus at the moment is on making sure in the two rounds we have run - the 2019 and 2024 rounds - that we work with those projects to make sure they are moving forward. We will monitor them to see if there is additional funding available within what has already been allocated to be ready to do more. The focus is very much on making them move on, and some of them need to get moving and get running with what they have been approved for.
Sentiment score: 0.33
We are looking at another round then, certainly within the course of this Government, but it is to be decided.
Sentiment score: 0.18
There are two capital funding programmes for sport, namely, the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and the large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. In total, over €1.5 million was allocated to swimming under the 2023 community sports facilities fund round as part of an overall CSFF investment of over €3.7 million in the last ten years. Swimming may also have benefited from allocations to multisport projects under the community sports facilities fund. Applications for the refurbishment of pools, installation of pop-up pools, improvements to the energy efficiencies of pools as well as improvements to the accessibility of pools can be made under the fund. In line with previous rounds of the fund, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken. Preparations are under way for a further round of the community sports facilities fund this year. It is anticipated the next round will particularly target areas and sports that have been underinvested in over the years. The LSSIF supports the development of new swimming pools as well as the refurbishment of existing pools. To date, that fund has allocated €297 million to projects, which includes allocations of €41.4 million to 12 swimming pool projects. Details of these allocations are available on the Department's website. In addition, the Department has also awarded design funding in 2024 to three swimming pools at Buncrana, Mullingar and Edenderry. It is anticipated that the design phase for those pools will be concluded by 2027. Regarding a future round of the LSSIF, as I said to Deputy Ó Murchú, our current focus is on ensuring project delivery for the first two rounds of the fund. This process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. No decisions have been made yet regarding the next round of the LSSIF.
Sentiment score: 0.12
I thank the Deputy for raising the gap analysis report. On what we are going to do about it, the first thing we did was to fund that report. We funded Swim Ireland to carry it out because we want to assess what the situation is across the country, what the level of service provision is, what the current infrastructure is like, where the gaps are most acute and what issues there are with existing infrastructure. The report outlines the heavy reliance on private pool provision, particularly hotel pools. Our officials are considering that report now. We will look at it in detail. It will also inform future funding decisions. There is a need for us to invest more in swimming pools. We have not seen as many projects as we would like to see come through community sport facilities fund applications. We will now consider where the gaps are, particularly with local authorities and, working with Swim Ireland, see what models work well in meeting provision in the most cost-effective way. We will then assess how we can best try to meet some of the gaps that report, which we funded, identified.
Sentiment score: 0.19
We will certainly look at all options. We need local authorities to step up and get into this space. It has been a challenging space. It has been challenging for pools to be run profitably. That has seen local authorities shy away and has led to some of the gaps we have. We need to see them step up. Certainly, the Department, working with Swim Ireland and Sport Ireland, will look to try to ensure that is the case as we go forward. That report is important in scoping out the current situation and looking to see what the challenges are around current provision. It is also about looking at what new models might work best and could work most profitably in a way that ensures there is provision and service that is even in communities. It is to ensure all kids have access, as the Deputy was fortunate enough to have in Kells, which is not the case everywhere. That should be addressed. We are very much intent on stepping forward from that report, looking at what the lessons are from it and seeing how we can address them.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I thank the Deputy for raising this and for his advocacy on behalf of the development of facilities in west Wicklow. He will have heard my previous response in relation to the support available through the community sport facilities fund and the large scale sport infrastructure fund. On Baltinglass, I confirm that no application for funding was received under either the LSSIF or the CSFF for a sports centre there. We are opening up, as I said, the CSFF over the course of this year and, in particular, the LSSIF will be considered over the course of this Government. As I mentioned in the previous response, we have a number of situations across the country like the situation the Deputy described in west Wicklow, where there is not the provision of swimming facilities to meet the needs of the local community. Following on from the completion of the Swim Ireland report, something we will consider is where those gaps are. We will also look to see what models can be put in place that would work and be viable in developing more facilities, could be run in a way that is cost-effective and provide the services needed in terms of swim facilities for local communities. I will certainly work with the Deputy on his advocacy for developing facilities in west Wicklow and seeing what steps the Government can take to ensure that future funding meets the needs of communities where there is a particular gap, such as in his constituency.
Sentiment score: 0.19
In the most recent round of the community sport facilities fund, we saw €7 million allocated to sporting projects across County Wicklow. I know this is a project the Deputy is clear is very much needed and is working closely with Wicklow County Council in relation to it. I am very open to continuing to work with him to see how we can ensure that as we open future rounds of the CSFF this year, and are looking towards the next LSSIF round, that applications, such as for the sports centre he is working on, can be considered as part of that. I acknowledge the work and advocacy the Deputy is doing to try to address a real need within the community. From the Government's point of view, it is our objective to try to support the further development of facilities. We will work with the Deputy on that.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I recognise the work of the county council in working with the group. The future provision of sporting facilities is something we want to see being done on a collaborative basis as much as possible, particularly with local authorities trying to bring sporting clubs together to ensure there is synergy in the utilisation of existing land and the investment in facilities. I acknowledge the merits of the project the Deputy is putting forward and we will work with him in relation to upcoming funding rounds to ensure it can be considered.
Sentiment score: 0.36
I thank the Deputy for raising this. The 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 am supportive of any funding proposal to enable local authorities to acquire lands for sport and recreation purposes. I have not had engagement with local authorities directly on this issue, but I am conscious of the pressure on playing space availability in urban areas in particular. Funding to local authorities to improve the amenity of communities is primarily a matter for the Department of housing and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and I intend to engage with him regarding the programme for Government commitment to ensure we can move it forward. Once lands are acquired for sporting purposes, applications for capital investment, including equipment, on those lands can be supported via the community sports facilities fund as well as the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. 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. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026. In 2024, the second round of LSSIF received an unprecedented demand for funding. On 4 November 2024, grants totalling €173 million were awarded to 35 projects, and my current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF. No decisions have been taken regarding the next round of the LSSIF as of yet.
Sentiment score: 0.25
It is a real challenge. I have met lots of Dublin clubs over the last period of time. Access to land is a real difficulty for them in meeting the needs of their local communities. Certainly, in order to develop thriving communities, if we are developing new houses, we have to make sure we are developing the recreation and sporting facilities to be able to match that as we go forward. It is something on which I will be intensively engaging with the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, and his Department to make sure we have an integrated and co-ordinated approach as we develop and meet the real challenge we have in housing and, equally, ensuring that sporting facilities can be developed alongside that. I am certainly very happy to work with the Deputy and other Deputies across the city to try to make progress on that. I thank him for raising it here in the Chamber this evening.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank Deputy Moynihan. I know this is something he has been raising with local authorities and advocating very strongly on. I have engaged with them on this issue as well. I look forward to working closely with the Deputy to see how we can make progress on this really pressing need.
Sentiment score: 0.43
I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 147 together. I thank Deputy O'Meara for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits, as the Deputy knows, to continued sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels. The community sports facilities fund, CSFF, provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. This programme has operated annually since 1998. One of the objectives of the community sports facilities fund is to assist voluntary and community organisations, sport national governing bodies, NGBs, local authorities, education and training boards and schools to develop high-quality, accessible, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations. Funding for sports facilities in schools is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Youth. However, third level colleges, education and training boards and schools are eligible to apply to the community sports facilities fund jointly with sports clubs. Such applications must provide evidence of facility-sharing arrangements that will allow sports clubs to use the proposed facilities throughout the year when not in use by the school. There are no plans to change this approach given the existing demands on the community sports facilities fund. Sports clubs within schools and third level colleges are not entitled to apply for funding directly to the CSFF. A joint application with a school enables clubs in high-density areas to access high-quality facilities without needing to purchase and develop a new site and allows a club to provide facilities that are close to home for its members, reducing travel time, and help drive increased participation in sport. It is something we certainly want to encourage in the upcoming round. There are a lot of synergies that can be gained whereby schools can be using these facilities during the day and clubs can be using them in the evening. It can work really well for everyone, especially for everyone in the community. It is something we will be looking to encourage collaboration on.
Sentiment score: 0.18
There has been engagement between our two Departments and we will certainly continue to collaborate to see how best we can work together and ensure that, through good co-operation, we are serving local communities well. With the community sports facilities fund coming up now and to be completed by the end of this year, there is a real opportunity there for schools to assess the potential they have to develop their facilities, to work with local clubs in their area and to come forward with an application that can work for everyone. I will certainly continue to engage with the Minister for education, as will my Department, on how we can work well together in pursuit of that too.
Sentiment score: 0.69
I thank Deputies O'Meara and Byrne. They make eminent sense in relation to the potential at school level to serve the community as well as serving the school population during school times. I will be engaging with the Minister for education and her Department to see how we can better pursue that objective. I thank the Deputies for raising the matter on the floor of the Dáil today.
Sentiment score: 0.42