Leisure centre in Laois gets generous top-up to cover costs

Laois Leisure- Portarlington are set to receive a top-up grant of over €160,000 after Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education announced “Top Up” grant allocations to existing projects under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 with €86.4 million subsequently awarded to 33 different projects. This additional funding amounts to a total of €37.6 million with 27 individual projects benefitting, bringing the total awarded to date to Large Scale Sport Infrastructure funded projects to €124 million.

The additional funding for projects is being provided, in response to delays experienced by grantees arising from the pandemic and construction inflation, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

For the first time, it will be a requirement for all successful applicants to publish their Similar Access Policies, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities on similar terms, in order to be eligible for a “top-up” allocation drawdown.

Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, commented on the grant. 

"Portarlington Leisure Centre Swimming Pool will receive an additional €163,000 top up under the Large Scale sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The Leisure centre was previously awarded €300,000, but this top up means that additional costs arising from inflation and delays over the pandemic will be covered.

"I’m delighted that this funding is going Portarlington Leisure Centre. It is a fantastic facility which services communities in Laois, Offaly and beyond. Access to local facilities is so important for both physical and mental wellbeing and this government has ambitious targets to get as many people participating in sport as possible. Funding of this nature ensures the continuance of this vital amenity for the community," she said.

Laois Fine Gael TD, Charlie Flanagan, has welcomed the announcement that “Top Up” grants have been allocated to existing projects under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The Deputy stated: "As part of this morning’s announcement, Portarlington Leisure Centre will be awarded an additional allocation of €162,952. The additional funding for projects is being provided, in response to delays experienced by grantees arising from the pandemic and construction inflation.

“Portarlington Leisure Centre is an excellent centre and provides facilities to nurture sporting talents across the county.  I very much welcome this investment in the county which will benefit not only those living in Portarlington but the surrounding areas.”

“Investment in sport is also a really worthwhile policy objective for Government from a health point of view. Society reaps the rewards through improved health of the population," he said.

A new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with dates, terms and conditions to be published on the department’s website in due course.