AQW 40910/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities, pursuant to AQO3125/22-27, whether his Department has updated its list of hockey pitches which are available for play, with floodlights.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 18 February 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 18 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 5 March 2026
- Answered
- 2 March 202612 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
This issue is an operational matter for Sport NI.
I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:
“Sport NI’s Active Places survey was updated during 2025 following engagement with Local Councils who provided a review of the facilities they operate.
The National Governing Body for Hockey also provided Sport NI with a list of facilities, which was amalgamated with the existing Active Places dataset.
The Active Places dataset now lists 130 facilities, 75 of which are floodlit.”
| Council Area | Gravel/ Shale | Synthetic | Water | Total Pitches | Floodlit |
| Antrim & Newtownabbey | 10 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 8 |
| Ards & North Down | 1 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 8 |
| Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon | 6 | 11 | 1 | 18 | 7 |
| Belfast City | 5 | 19 | 4 | 28 | 16 |
| Causeway Coast & Glens | 5 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 7 |
| Derry City & Strabane | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Fermanagh & Omagh | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Lisburn & Castlereagh | 1 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Mid & East Antrim | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| Mid Ulster | 2 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
| Newry, Mourne & Down | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Total | 35 | 85 | 10 | 130 | 75 |