To ask the Minister for Communities to outline any discussions he has had with the Minister of Finance in relation to further investment in sports facilities.

Mr Lyons (The Minister for Communities)

I will meet the Minister of Finance next week to discuss investment in sports facilities. I will, however, continue to make the case at Executive level for improved funding for my Department so that it can provide better services across all its activities, including sport.

Mr Lyons

I want to see sporting need met in all areas of Northern Ireland. Importantly, I want to make sure that the £36·2 million that has been waiting for many years can be spent. There has been a degree of over-planning so that, if some of the clubs fall out because they are not ready to proceed at that stage, we will still have the funding available so that some can proceed, and we can get the money spent. However, I recognise that there is a need for additional funding for sport in Northern Ireland, and I will certainly make the case for it.

Miss Brogan

Last week, at the Communities Committee, departmental officials mentioned that the Minister is seeking additional and alternative funding for the football fund. Can the Minister confirm whether he is seeking additional and alternative funding for other sports or projects, or is it just the football fund that he is seeking those funds for?

Mr Lyons

There is certainly a need in football, and, when questioned, officials were answering directly about the football fund. I have always said that we need more money for sport across Northern Ireland. One reason why I brought forward the Olympic legacy fund is that I realised that, outside the three main sports, many sports do not feel that they are getting the funding that they deserve. I am putting a proportion towards that so that those needs can, I hope, be partially met, but I will always be an advocate for more money for sport in Northern Ireland.

Mr Brooks

I thank the Minister for the investment that he has made in sport, and I know that he values equality across sports. Does he accept that, at this point, football and rugby are £50 million behind when it comes to equality of funding?

Mr Lyons

Yes, that is absolutely the case. I believe that we should proceed on the basis of fairness and what was put in place through the arrangements in 2011. He is right. Unfortunately, the UK Government have moved outside of what was agreed previously, and, therefore, football and rugby are now behind when it comes to the funding that has been made available to them. That will need to be remedied.

Mr Durkan

Did the Minister have any discussion with the Finance Minister in advance of his announcement on the Northern Ireland Football Fund, which over-plans by some £50-odd million? When did he inform his colleagues of the content of that announcement?

Mr Lyons

The Member will be aware that there has been extensive engagement through the House and through the Committee. I have updated Executive colleagues at the appropriate times, and I will meet the Minister of Finance next week to discuss these matters further. However, it is under my remit as Communities Minister, and, with Executive approval in place since 2011 for the Minister to take forward such a scheme, I do not require Executive approval. However, I will, of course, keep Executive colleagues updated. Of course, it went through the proper processes, with everything going to the appropriate Departments to get those assurances.

Mr Allen

Twenty clubs are pleased to be moving forward to the next phase of the fund, but, equally, many more clubs are frustrated that they are not moving forward. Minister, what engagement is your Department having with those clubs to better understand their needs and to understand what the Department can do to support them?

Mr Lyons

Absolutely. We are beginning a process of engaging with clubs that were not successful at this stage so that we can, first of all, give feedback on the assessment and, then, talk about next steps, some of the immediate needs that they have, what other funding sources might be available and the plans that we have moving forward. I emphasise the words "at this stage" because I want all clubs to see their need met and this to move forward.