Laois Regional Sports Complex proposal raised with Minister

A Laois government TD was told the Council or a National Governing Body would have to apply for funding for a Regional Sports Complex in Laois.  

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Charlie McConalogue said his Department is aware of a proposal for a Regional Sports Complex in Laois but no application for funding was made in the 2024 round of Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund(LSSIF) for a project in the county.

He was responding to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fail TD, Sean Fleming, who asked the Minister for “the up-to-date information on a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter” on Tuesday, July 15 last.  

In response, Minister McConalogue said: “My Department is aware of proposals regarding a Regional Sports Complex in County Laois. However, no application was received in respect of such a proposal under the 2024 round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).” 

Minister McConalogue explained that the LSSIF was established to provide support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.

“In 2024, the second round of LSSIF received an unprecedented demand for funding. On 4 November 2024, grants totalling €173 million were awarded to 35 projects,” he said. 

He told Dep Fleming that details of the projects are available on his Department’s website 

“Applications under LSSIF must be made by either a Local Authority or an NGB. It is a matter for those organisations to prioritise their capital development requirements,” said Minister McConalogue. 

“With regard to a future round of the LSSIF, I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide. The Programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there is lower than average participation levels.

My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. I would expect however that the period of time to a future LSSIF round will be less than the period of time between the first and second rounds,” he concluded.