The Government’s commitment to sport and local communities was underpinned today when Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring announced grants of €40.5 million for 880 sports projects across the country.
Speaking at the announcement Minister Ring said: “Sports clubs and organisations are the lifeblood of communities across Ireland. I’m delighted to be able to show how much the Government values their role and contribution. Thanks to their largely voluntary work, these clubs and organisations are delivering on the Government’s target to get more people to be more active, more often.”
The €40.5 million allocated today is a 30% increase in funding over the €31 million allocated in the last Sports Capital Programme in 2012. The Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s main vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.
A total of 2,036 applications were made under the 2014 Programme, the second highest number ever received under a Sports Capital Programme. A total of 821 of the successful allocations are towards local sports clubs and organisations, with the remaining 59 allocated to regional or national projects.
The facilities being funded today range from small-scale equipment grants, to regionally significant centres of sporting excellence.
This Government has now allocated over €85 million under the Sports Capital Programme since it came into office. Much of this funding has been allocated with the assistance of national governing bodies or local authorities. In the context of the tight budgetary situation, this level of funding shows a phenomenal commitment to sport and to local communities.
The allocations announced include funding for:
o Natural grass sports pitches, tracks and courts;
o Floodlighting;
o Artificial sports pitches, tracks, courts and multi-use games areas;
o Security fencing and ball stop netting;
o Hurling walls / handball alleys;
o Building or refurbishment of dressing rooms, showers and toilets;
o Building or refurbishment of sports halls and gyms;
o Non-personal sports equipment;
o Shared facilities;
o Permanently fixed outdoor gym equipment.
For a full break down of the grant by county click here
For a full break down of the grants given to non local sports allocations click here
The Federations Members received the following grants:
Athletics Association of Ireland – €200,000
Badminton Ireland – €150,000
Cricket Ireland – €60,000
Football Association of Ireland – €360,000
Gymnastics Ireland- €300,000
Irish Amateur Wrestling Association – €22,000
Irish American Football Association – €15,000
Irish Martial Arts Commission – €100,000
Irish Olympic Handball Association – €20,000
Irish Orienteering Association – €39,000
Irish Rugby Football Union – €100,000
Irish Table Tennis Association – €17,000
Irish Ten Pin Bowling Association – €3,000
Irish Tug of War Association – €17,252
Irish Wheelchair Association – Sport – €130,000
Paralympics Ireland – €200,000
Special Olympics Ireland – €17,000
Swim Ireland – €190,000
Triathlon Ireland – €150,000
Volleyball Association of Ireland – €62,000
Weightlifting Ireland – €26,000
