Fine Gael TD accuses Fianna Fáil minister of 'muddying the waters' over new sports grant

Longford-Westmeath TD Micheál Carrigy has said a lot of local clubs and groups are quite confused about the proposed Community Sports Facilities Fund

Micheál Carrigy (left) and Charlie McConalogue (right). Mr Carrigy said briefings being held by Mr  McConalogue on the proposed Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) had created confusion among sports clubs. File pictures

A Fine Gael TD has accused a Coalition colleague of "muddying the waters" by holding information meetings on a new sports grants scheme before details have been finalised.

In an email to councillors seen by the Irish Examiner, Longford-Westmeath TD Micheál Carrigy said briefings being held by junior sports minister and Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue on the proposed Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) had created confusion among sports clubs.

The CSFF is due to replace the long-running Sports Capital Programme later this year.

"As you may be aware, there have been a number of public meetings regarding information for the CSFF by minister McConalogue," states Mr Carrigy.  "I wanted to highlight to you, and to local clubs and organisations, that once the department has confirmed the full details and eligibility criteria, public information meetings will be organised.

"Rather than holding meetings at this stage with only limited information available on the new application process, we believe it is more beneficial to provide complete and accurate guidance once all details are confirmed.

"While it's good to see engagement, hosting these public forums before the full details and guidelines of the scheme have been finalised has unfortunately muddied the waters and left a lot of local clubs and groups quite confused."

Fianna Fáil sources have called the letter "surprising" and "disappointing". They pointed out that Fine Gael colleagues have attended some of the meetings and that the information sessions have been well received.

Mr Carrigy confirmed to the Irish Examiner that he sent the letter, adding that he felt it was important that clubs are encouraged to attend information sessions after the new grant system is confirmed.

At an Oireachtas media committee meeting in May, sports minister Patrick O'Donovan said the new CSFF scheme was to be signed off "imminently". However, committee chair Alan Kelly said the scheme "is not signed off and is nowhere near signed off".

Mr O'Donovan said he wanted to ensure that the new grant scheme is better than the existing system.

"We know the demand is going to be very big, but if we were to open a scheme, it would want to be as good as, if not better than, the last one. Based on anecdotal information, the volume there is so big that we would want to have as good an amount as the previous round.

"We have a new IT system that has been invested in and trialled, and it works. If people did not register under the previous OSCAR system, we will ask them to register once that system goes live."

• Paul Hosford, deputy political editor