A new round of funding of up to €120m under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was announced by Ministers Martin and Byrne on Friday morning.
The fund is open straight away and will remain so until the closing date of July 1st.
Applications from Local Authorities and National Governing Bodies must be in line with the Government’s stated sporting objectives below.
They also show evidence of providing match funding of at least 30 per cent of the overall cost.
Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 and €30m, will take into account population size, sustainability, reducing administrative overheads and ensuring that similar access is provided to accommodate access by men and women to LSSIF-funded facilities.
It is vitally important that we continue to invest in sporting facilities so that people of all ages and abilities can benefit from their use,” said Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media announcing the Fund.
“We need to maintain capital investment in Sport. I am pleased that following the confirmation of the revised capital allocations under the National Development Plan the Government is in a position to provide more funding assistance for the development of large-scale sports projects. I encourage all eligible project applicants with suitable projects to consider applying for this competitive process. New projects could be designed to increase participation in sport, to provide large venues or stadia or to boost high performance and new swimming pool projects will also be considered.”
“Continued investment in sports facilities across the country is essential so we can achieve our ambitious targets for sports participation,” added Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education Thomas Byrne.
“The implementation of the new Similar Access Requirement will also ensure that women and men enjoy similar access to all sports facilities which are publicly funded.”
“I have been delighted to visit and engage with projects funded under the first round of LSSIF, including Connacht Rugby, the Linear Walkway Project in Meath, Phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford, and the Regional Athletics Hub in Limerick.”
“Deliverability is a key focus of the LSSIF and I know that many more existing projects will be completed and open to the public following the additional funding confirmed last December. Today’s announcement of a new round of funding means we can build on the progress made to date under LSSIF and ensure projects across the country get an opportunity to deliver the facilities that their communities need and will participate in for decades to come.”
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 with €86.4 million awarded to 33 different projects. Additional funding of €37.6 million was allocated to 27 of these projects in December 2023, bringing the total awarded to date to Large Scale Sport Infrastructure funded projects to €124 million.
This new round of funding follows the publication earlier this month of the ‘Review of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF)’ and the new ‘Similar Access Requirement’. The Review outlined the issues faced by LSSIF projects to date and provides recommendations in relation to a new round of LSSIF. Delivery of the first round of the LSSIF is beginning to accelerate and there will be a strong focus on accelerated deliverability of projects under this new round of funding.
This call for proposals will again support investment in sporting infrastructure that will reinforce the Department’s stated sporting objectives and will aim to:
o Increase active participation in sport (including female participation) and the quality of that participation
o Increase social participation in sport and the quality of that participation
o Improve high performance in sport
o Increase active participation by those with a disability
o Provide Similar Access to facilities to all.
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