Sporting organisations get €85m grant aid windfall

SPORTS minister John O’Donoghue yesterday unveiled an €85 million windfall to help sporting organisations across the country find, train and push the star athletes, footballers and rugby aces of the future.

Mr O’Donoghue unveiled a bumper package of grants to sporting and community organisations under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme — with €3m alone earmarked for the Munster IRFU’s major redevelopment of Thomond Park.

Other major projects to benefit from the taxpayers’ largesse include the redevelopment of Dublin’s RDS as a home venue for Leinster IRFU.