Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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108. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to increase funding to grassroots and community sports clubs following 18 months in which clubs have been unable to fundraise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33224/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A total Covid-19 funding package of €88.5 million was provided last year to support the sport sector. This significant investment benefited all levels of the sport sector, including thousands of grassroots clubs across the country, and provided some certainty for sporting organisations in their planning for 2021.

The funding package included support for the three main field sports organisations (the FAI, GAA and IRFU), a Resilience Fund to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport, a Sports Club Resilience Fund to support clubs, and a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund. 

In addition to funding of almost €17m allocated to National Governing Bodies of Sport under the Sports Club Resilience Fund to enable them to support their affiliated clubs, funding of €1.9 million was provided to 1,637 clubs throughout the country as part of small grant schemes operated by Local Sports Partnerships.  This small grants scheme fund was developed to support clubs which may not have the finances to implement Covid-19 related hygiene and social distancing protocols.

It should also be noted that Sport Ireland received an increase of €26.3m in current funding for 2021 compared to 2020, to enable Sport Ireland to continue to support the sport sector in 2021.  

In relation to further Covid-19 funding for 2021, Minister Martin and I have committed to supporting the sport sector again this year in meeting the challenges arising from Covid-19. Sport Ireland is in ongoing communication with the NGBs and is assessing the financial needs of the sector. In addition, I am engaging with NGBs with regard to the supports required.