600 sports projects win share of €26m fund

More than 600 local sports projects are to benefit from a €26m scheme which marks the first round of sports capital funding in four years.

Michael Ring, junior sport minister, made the announcement and said there was an emphasis on clubs in disadvantaged areas.

From 1998 to 2010, €140 per person was provided in sports capital funding.

However, allocations to counties varied significantly. While the best-performing county got €196 of sports funding on a per capita basis, other counties got little over half of that. Now, funding has been allocated on a per-capita basis to each county with a weighting for past performance.

A total of 2,170 applications were received, the highest number received under the programme.

These applications sought a total of €229m in funding. Further allocations of €4m will be made to national and regional projects in the coming weeks.

Mr Ring said the projects would give people in every county the chance to get involved in sport.

“I am excited about the allocations being made today. These allocations will benefit people in every county by giving them more opportunities to get involved in sport, whatever their ability. This funding will allow a diverse array of sports clubs and groups to build and improve much-needed facilities, or to purchase sports equipment.”

There was a total fund of €30m available for allocation, with some previously excluded clubs able to apply this year. For the first time, clubs and organisations which do not own their land or do not have a long lease were able to apply for grants of up to €25,000 to upgrade facilities.

The allocations include funding for a range of different facilities, from natural grass sports pitches, tracks, and courts to floodlighting, security and fencing, and building or refurbishment of sports halls and gyms.

* See the full list of benefiting sport schemes at here