Funding for sports infrastructure projects is to be increased by the government as it seeks to capitalise on Ireland’s success at the Olympics before the general election.
Thomas Byrne, the sports minister, said applications from national sporting bodies and local authorities to the large-scale sports infrastructure fund (LSSIF) have totalled more than €600 million. While this is multiples of the €120 million allocated to the LSSIF earlier this year, Byrne said the coalition government would increase the fund as it attempts to get several significant sports infrastructure projects off the ground.
Demand for greater state investment in sports facilities has increased in the wake of the country’s best-ever performance at the Olympics in Paris and ministers are anxious to capitalise on public sentiment and optimism.