Latest Coalition rift arises over new sports capital funding scheme

Fianna Fáil sources say they are 'mystified' by what they see as alleged 'politicking' by Fine Gael members

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Charlie McConalogue. File Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

A new coalition rift has arisen over the issue of a new sports capital funding scheme.

Fianna Fáil TDs met to discuss the issue on Wednesday, believing that Fine Gael members and independents who support the Government have prematurely shared details of the successor to the Sports Capital Grant.

While Fianna Fáil sources say they are "mystified" by what they see as "politicking", Fine Gael sources are adamant that details of the new scheme were shared across the board to all members of the coalition. However, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport declined to say whether details of the scheme were finalised when asked on Wednesday afternoon by The Irish Examiner.

Details of the opening dates for the scheme were shared late on Tuesday by a number of Fine Gael TDs, but Fianna Fáil sources said that junior sports minister Charlie McConalogue had asked that his party members not follow suit as details were still being finalised.

However, by mid morning a number of Fianna Fáil TDs had posted their own announcements along with Fine Gael TDs and independents Sean Canney and Barry Heneghan. 

Privately, some in Fianna Fáil fumed that they believed Fine Gael TDs had been given advance notice, but senior Fine Gael sources said that the information had been shared with everyone in the coalition and that dissemination was a matter for Fianna Fáil. Some in Fianna Fáil expressed their displeasure that Mr McConalogue had asked members to wait as they believed that the "horse had bolted".

Last month, a Fine Gael TD 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," he said.

According to the widely shared posts, the scheme will open for registrations next Monday.