Investing in the future of sport for all

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin and Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht Thomas Byrne recently announced a vast investment that could help transform Irish sport from grassroots level and beyond.

Funding of up to €120m (£102m/$130m) is set to be invested under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LLSIF). Its overall aims are to bring about an increase in active sport participation, especially in women and girls, improve high performance in sport, and provide similar access facilities to all.

The fund was first introduced in 2018 with initial allocations announced in January 2020. Since then, it has seen €124m awarded, but this latest round marks a huge increase in resources for the scheme.

“A new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund provides a significant opportunity to build on the progress made to date under the LSSIF and ensure that projects across the country get an opportunity to deliver the sport facilities that their communities need, and will participate in, for decades to come,” a spokesperson from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media tells Global Sustainable Sport.

“In order for our ambitious sports participation targets to be achieved, the government understands that continued investment in sports facilities across the country is essential.

“Continued investment in sporting facilities is also vitally important to ensure that people, of all ages and abilities, can benefit from their use.

“Under the new round of the LSSIF, applicants can seek public funding for the construction of large sporting venues, stadiums and new swimming pool projects, which will enhance our participation rates on a local, municipal and regional basis, and improve our high-performance capabilities.”

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.

Applications are now open until July 1, and uptake has already been quick. An online information session was held for interested applicants with nearly 100 people and organisations, predominantly National Governing Bodies, in attendance.

The LLSIF has been introduced to fast-track funding into sports in Ireland. It provides Exchequer support where the Exchequer investment is larger than the maximum grant available under the Sport Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).

SCEP is Ireland’s primary vehicle for government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

It has resulted in more than 13,000 projects benefiting from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to more than €1.15bn.

“This has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in sporting facilities in numerous towns and cities in the country,” the Department spokesperson says.

Providing access for all

In addition to community facilities like gyms, playing fields and tennis courts all being eligible for LSSIF funding, a “similar access requirement” was introduced by Byrne which states that recipients of investments for primarily professional use must also accommodate the needs of everyday people.

It states that use of the infrastructure cannot be used exclusively by a single professional sport user, and instead should accommodate other professional users or non-professionals for at least 20% of its time capacity.

For example, a previous round of LSSIF funding saw Connacht Rugby significantly invest in their stadium and also develop an extensive women’s programme. This includes dedicated youth, senior, and rugby sevens set-ups.

Accessibility for all is also a key aspect of the fund, with aspirations for men, women, children to be able to enjoy sport no matter what.

The money will help to finance facilities such as the Dundalk Leisure Centre which, among other upgrades, has seen an improvement to its swimming pool with emphasis on disability access.

The refurbishment works, which were supported by the LSSIF, consist of the installation of new disabled changing areas, lockers, family-friendly changing cubicles, non-slip safety tiles and group changing areas. Furthermore, all areas are accessible with specifically designed lockers for wheelchair users – which were previously lacking in the facility.

“The government recognises that sport has a tremendous potential to improve the health and wellbeing of all our people,” says Martin.

“In particular it is vitally important that we have facilities like these so that everyone can benefit. I’m delighted to see that this upgrade in facilities has a major emphasis on disability access which was previously very limited. I know that this facility will be a valued resource which will promote health and fitness for all ages and abilities for many years to come.”

Byrne adds: “This new round of the LSSIF will pave the way for many more projects like this to be completed in the coming years, as the government and I continue to advance investment in sports facilities across Ireland.”

The latest round of the LSSIF provides a significant opportunity to build on progress made and ensure that projects across Ireland get an opportunity to deliver the sport facilities that their communities need, and will participate in, for decades to come.

In order for sports participation targets to be achieved, the country’s government understands that continued investment in sports facilities across the country is essential.

Continued investment in sporting facilities is vitally important to ensure that people, of all ages and abilities, can benefit from their use.

With the LSSIF, applicants can seek public funding for the construction of large sporting venues, stadiums and new swimming pool projects, which will enhance participation rates on a local, municipal and regional basis, and ultimately improve high performance capabilities.

As well as the Connacht Rugby initiative, LSSIF has also helped the Linear Walkway Project in Meath, Phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford, and the Regional Athletics Hub in Limerick.

These projects are set to be followed by more announcements this year and have the potential to provide countless benefits for people for years to come through the LSSIF.