Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, have published a review of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), along with a new policy requirement on implementing similar access for men and women to sports facilities funded under the LSSIF.
In view of the slower than anticipated project completion rates, due mainly to Covid 19 and construction inflation, a review of all LSSIF projects was undertaken. The review outlines the issues faced by LSSIF projects to date, and provides recommendations in relation to a new round of LSSIF. The five recommendations range from guiding principles in respect of maximising the use of Large-Scale Sports Facilities, naming rights of stadiums, and the level of grant aid received by projects.
The new Similar Access Requirement now means that recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities that have been allocated public funding. Any organisation that is in receipt of LSSIF funding must have a similar access policy in place, and must work towards publishing it as soon as possible.
Commenting on the publication Minister Catherine Martin said:
“This review is timely as it provides an overview of the progress made in respect of LSSIF projects that were already allocated grants, and incorporates inputs from meetings with all LSSIF grantees. The recommendations in this review will be taken into account ahead of the new round of LSSIF, launching shortly. For women and girls, the sporting environment can sometimes be unwelcoming and excluding, leading to a lack of participation and engagement. I hope the new LSSIF requirement, the Similar Access Requirement, further improves access for all women and girls using publicly-funding sporting facilities.
“Minister Byrne and I have already confirmed that a new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in the coming weeks, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website shortly. I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens.”
Minister Thomas Byrne said:
“It is very important that anybody considering applying for LSSIF funding is aware of the new Similar Access Requirement that I am proud to introduce. Under the Similar Access Requirement, women and men must have similar access to LSSIF funded facilities and recipients of LSSIF funding must also have a published policy showing how that is the case in practice. By implementing the Similar Access Requirement, we can better ensure equal opportunities to participate in sport.
“Deliverability is a key focus of the LSSIF and I am eager for projects to be completed sooner than have been to date. The LSSIF Review makes a number of recommendations which will be considered as part of the new call for LSSIF applications.”
The Review and Policy Documents can be accessed at:
www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-
Notes:
The LSSIF is the main vehicle of government support for the development of larger sports and physical recreation facilities in the country. The Fund provides Exchequer support where the Exchequer investment is larger than the maximum grant available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. A new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the department’s website in due course.
Summary of LSSIF Review Recommendations;
Recommendation 1; Consideration to be given to specific population and climate action/ sustainability criteria in a future round of LSSIF.
The most recent Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) “Guide to Making an Application” had a focus on climate action and sustainability for the first time, supporting local clubs to take steps to reduce their energy consumption and applying for more efficient lighting. Under a future round of LSSIF, marks may also be awarded to applications from areas witnessing significant population growth. In particular, the level of existing facilities in an area will continue to be a factor when scoring applications.
Recommendation 2. Reduce the administrative overhead for lower value grant aided projects will be examined in a future round.
The funding provided under the LSSIF is substantial, and implementing the rules and procedures of the Public Spending Code to the highest standard is essential to guarantee value for money for all publicly funded projects. It is accepted however, that the requirements for grantees receiving lower levels of grant funding was significantly more demanding than those pertaining to the maximum grants available under the SCEP.
Recommendation 3. Further consideration to be given to the level of grant aid funding required to deliver projects.
Review meetings with grantees highlighted that many applicants, in preparing their applications, believed that 70% of the eligible project cost would be provided if they were successful. Given that the first round of LSSIF was oversubscribed and subsequently it was not possible to give any project the full amount sought. This will need to be fully considered ahead of a new LSSIF call for applications.
Recommendation 4. LSSIF applicants will be required to set out their facility access policy which provides for similar access for men and women to the sport’s facility.
In similar terms to the requirements set out under the 2023 SCEP Guide, future LSSIF applicants will be required to set out their similar access policy for the use of the facility for men and women.
Recommendation 5. Guiding Principles in respect of Stadiums and Large-Scale Sports Facilities;
LSSIF applicants must clearly demonstrate how their stadium and/or large scale sports facility will be utilised to the greatest possible extent on completion of their project. Criteria is also provided which should be taken into consideration prior to any agreement on stadium and/or large scale sports facility naming rights being made by a LSSIF grantee.
Foilsíonn na hAirí Martin & Byrne Athbhreithniú ar an gCiste Infreastruchtúr Spóirt ar Scála Mór agus Ceanglas Nua maidir le Rochtain Chomhchosúil
Inniu (an 3 Aibreán 2024), d’fhoilsigh Catherine Martin TD, an tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, agus Thomas Byrne TD, an tAire Stáit don Spórt agus don Chorpoideachas, athbhreithniú ar an gCiste Infreastruchtúr Spóirt ar Scála Mór mar aon le ceanglas beartais nua maidir le rochtain chomhchosúil d’fhir agus do mhná ar shaoráidí spóirt a mhaoinítear faoin Scéim a chur chun feidhme.
I bhfianaise na rátaí críochnaithe tionscadal níos moille ná mar a bhíothas ag súil leis, de bharr COVID-19 agus boilsciú tógála go príomha, rinneadh athbhreithniú ar gach tionscadal de chuid na Scéime. Tugtar achoimre san athbhreithniú ar na dúshláin a cuireadh roimh thionscadail na Scéime go dtí seo agus soláthraítear ann moltaí maidir le babhta nua na Scéime. Cuirtear san áireamh sna cúig mholadh treoirphrionsabail a uasmhéadú maidir le húsáid Áiseanna Spóirt ar Mhórscála, cearta staideanna a ainmniú, agus leibhéal an chúnaimh deontais a fhaigheann tionscadail.
Ciallaíonn an Ceanglas nua maidir le Riachtanas Comhchosúil go gcaithfidh daoine a fhaigheann maoiniú ón Scéim anois freastal ar riachtanais na mban agus na bhfear, ar bhonn comhchosúil, maidir le rochtain a fháil ar na háiseanna ar leithdháileadh maoiniú poiblí dóibh. Caithfidh polasaí maidir le rochtain chomhchosúil a bheith i bhfeidhm ag eagraíocht ar bith a fhaigheann maoiniú faoin Scéim agus ní mór dóibh oibriú chun é a fhoilsiú chomh luath agus is féidir.
Ag labhairt faoin bhfoilseachan, dúirt an tAire Catherine Martin:
“Tá an t-athbhreithniú seo tráthúil mar go dtugtar léargas ann ar an dul chun cinn a rinneadh maidir le tionscadail na Scéime ar leithdháileadh deontais orthu go dtí seo agus cuirtear san áireamh ann ionchuir ó chruinnithe le deonaithe uile na Scéime. Cuirfear moltaí an athbhreithnithe seo san áireamh sula seolfar babhta nua na Scéime go luath. I gcás go leor ban agus cailíní, is minic gur féidir leis an timpeallacht spóirt a bheith doicheallach agus eisiach, rud a fhágann go mbíonn easpa rannpháirtíochta ann. Mar thoradh ar cheanglas nua na Scéime maidir le Rochtain Chomhchosúil, tá súil agam go dtabharfar rochtain níos fearr do gach bean agus cailín a úsáideann áiseanna spóirt a mhaoinítear ó chistí poiblí”.
“Dheimhnigh an tAire Byrne agus mé féin cheana féin go nglacfar le hiarratais faoi bhabhta nua na Scéime sna seachtainí atá romhainn, agus foilseofar na dátaí, na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha go luath ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne. Mholfainn do gach tionscadal incháilithe smaoineamh ar chur isteach ar an bpróiseas iomaíoch iarratais seo nuair a osclófar é”.
Dúirt an tAire Thomas Byrne:
“Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeadh aon duine atá ag smaoineamh ar iarratas a dhéanamh ar mhaoiniú na Scéime ar an eolas faoin gCeanglas maidir le Rochtain Chomhchosúil a bhfuilim iontach bródúil as a thabhairt isteach. Faoin gCeanglas maidir le Rochtain Chomhchosúil, ní mór go mbeadh rochtain chomhchosúil ag mná agus fir ar shaoráidí a mhaoinítear faoin Scéim agus ní mór do dhaoine a fhaigheann maoiniú faoin Scéim polasaí foilsithe a bheith acu ina léirítear conas mar a oibríonn sé sin ó thaobh na praiticiúlachta de. Trí Cheanglas maidir le Rochtain Chomhchosúil a chur i bhfeidhm, is féidir linn comhdheiseanna a chinntiú chun páirt a ghlacadh sa spórt”.
“Sa Scéim seo, cuirtear béim ar inseachadacht agus tá fonn orm tionscadail a thabhairt chun críche níos luaithe ná mar a rinneadh go dtí seo agus déantar roinnt moltaí in Athbhreithniú na Scéime a chuirfear san áireamh mar chuid de bhabhta nua na Scéime”.
Is féidir na Cáipéisí Athbhreithnithe agus Beartais a léamh ag:
www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-
Nótaí:
Is í an Scéim LSSIF príomhmheán tacaíochta an rialtais chun saoráidí spóirt agus áineasa coirp níos mó a fhorbairt sa tír. Soláthraítear sa Chiste tacaíocht Státchiste nuair is mó infheistíocht an Státchiste ná an t-uasdeontas atá ar fáil faoin gClár um Chaipiteal agus Trealamh Spóirt. Osclófar babhta nua den Chiste Infreastruchtúr Spóirt ar Scála Mór le haghaidh iarratas sa chéad leath de 2024, agus foilseofar na dátaí, na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne in am trátha.
Achoimre ar na Moltaí a Thugtar in Abhreithniú na Scéime;
Moladh 1; Breithniú a dhéanamh ar shainchritéir daonra agus inbhuanaitheachta/
Sa “Treoir maidir le hIarratas a Dhéanamh” ar an gClár um Chaipiteal agus Trealamh Spóirt ba dhéanaí, díríodh ar ghníomhaíocht aeráide agus inbhuanaitheacht den chéad uair, ag tacú le clubanna áitiúla céimeanna a ghlacadh chun a n-ídiú fuinnimh a laghdú agus iarratas a dhéanamh ar shoilsiú níos éifeachtúla. Faoi bhabhta na Scéime amach anseo, féadfar marcanna a bhronnadh freisin ar iarratais ó cheantair ina bhfuil fás suntasach ar an daonra. Agus iarratais á scóráil, bíonn tionchar go háirithe ag leibhéal na n-áiseanna reatha i gceantar i gcónaí.
Moladh 2. Forchostas riaracháin a laghdú do thionscadail ar luach níos ísle a fhaigheann cúnamh deontais amach anseo.
Ní beag an maoiniú a chuirtear ar fáil faoin Scéim, agus tá sé ríthábhachtach rialacha agus nósanna imeachta an Chóid Chaiteachais Phoiblí a chur i bhfeidhm ar an gcaighdeán is airde chun luach ar airgead a chinntiú do gach tionscadal a mhaoinítear go poiblí. Glactar leis, áfach, go raibh na ceanglais maidir le deontaithe a fhaigheann leibhéil níos ísle de mhaoiniú deontais i bhfad níos déine ná iad siúd a bhaineann leis na huasdeontais a bhí ar fáil faoin Scéim um Chaipiteal agus Trealamh Spóirt.
Moladh 3. Breithniú a dhéanamh ar an leibhéal cúnamh maoinithe a theastaíonn chun tionscadail a sheachadadh.
Léiríodh i gcruinnithe athbhreithnithe leis na deontaithe gur chreid go leor iarratasóirí, agus a n-iarratas á ullmhú, go gcuirfí 70% de chostas incháilithe an tionscadail ar fáil dá n-éireodh leo. Ós rud é go raibh ró-éileamh ar an gcéad bhabhta den Scéim agus ina dhiaidh sin níorbh fhéidir an méid iomlán a bhí á lorg a thabhairt d’aon tionscadal. Ní mór é seo a mheas go hiomlán roimh bhabhta nua na Scéime.
Moladh 4. Ceanglófar ar iarratasóirí na Scéime a mbeartas rochtana saoráidí a leagan amach ina ndéantar foráil do rochtain chomhchosúil d’fhir agus do mhná ar an áis spóirt.
I dtéarmaí cosúil leis na ceanglais a leagtar amach faoi Threoir na Scéime um Chaipiteal agus Trealamh Spóirt 2023, amach anseo beidh ar iarratasóirí na Scéime um Infreastruchtúr Spóirt ar Scála Mór a mbeartas a leagan amach ó thaobh rochtana comhchosúla maidir le húsáid na saoráide d’fhir agus do mhná.
Moladh 5. Treoirphrionsabail maidir le Staideanna agus Saoráidí Spóirt ar Mhórscála;
Ní mór d’iarratasóirí na Scéime a léiriú go soiléir conas a úsáidfear a staid agus/nó a n-áis mórscála spóirt chomh fada agus is féidir ar chríochnú a dtionscadal. Cuirtear critéir ar fáil freisin ar chóir a chur san áireamh sula ndéanann deontaí na Scéime aon chomhaontú ar chearta ainmnithe staide agus/nó saoráidí spóirt ar mhórscála.