AQW 46528/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 01/06/2015
Answered On Date: 12/06/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what funding or grants exist to develop community water sports initiatives.

Answer:

On 18 May 2015, Sport NI, an arms length body of my Department, announced plans to invest £17.5 million of Lottery funding into sports facility projects across the north of Ireland over the next five years. This will result in a significant investment in the sporting and leisure infrastructure in the north of Ireland, which may include water sports initiatives, which will help to increase participation in sport and physical activity across communities.

The first strand of this programme, the single facility fund, is currently open for applications to a range of organisations including clubs and community associations and has a closing date of 15 July 2015. Guidance notes are currently available on the Sport NI website for the single facility fund for projects valued between £10,000 and £100,000. Applicants are advised to register interest for this programme on the Sport NI website at the following link: http://www.sportni.net/funding/funding-registrations/

My Department is committed to the development of community sports, including water sports, and in the last three financial years up to March 2015, Sport NI has provided total funding of £9,112,958 to Governing Bodies, clubs and organisations towards the development of community water sports.

In addition, in 2012/13, £14.438 million was invested in North Down Borough Council for the development of the construction of a new leisure centre to include the north of Ireland’s first 50 metre pool. The facilities are available to local residents and therefore provide opportunity for the development of community water sports.