Sports centres get €10m in grants

Some 21 sports centres around Ireland are to benefit from more than €10m in Government grants, it emerged tonight.

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue said 717 projects around the country would be handed cash boosts of more than €60m this year.

He added the funds would be a significant help to the national and regional infrastructure and improve international performance.

“These allocations give very real, practical effect to the commitment made in the agreed programme for Government that we will continue to invest in sports facilities around the country,” the minister said.

“This ongoing investment is yielding an excellent network of facilities for all levels of sport in Ireland and is providing a framework on which the delivery and implementation of national sports policy can be built.”

Mr O’Donoghue said almost €331m had now been allocated through the Government’s Sports Capital Programme to 4,271 projects across Ireland.

Some of the facilities to benefit include €5.8m to eight multi-sport centres around the country to meet the sport and leisure needs of towns and cities.

A €1.75m cash boost was handed out for the development of national headquarters for rowing, hockey and golf.

The Minister said a further €2.65m was allocated for regional playing centres for the country’s national games, football, soccer and rugby.

Five GAA county grounds in Offaly, Dublin, Cavan, Sligo and Longford were awarded €1.05m.

And €800,000 was given to three FAI regional soccer development sites at Galway’s Salthill Devon FC, Templeogue United in Dublin and Mayfield United in Cork.

Provincial rugby centres in the Munster RFU and Leinster RFU also earned €800,000 to improve grounds.