An Tánaiste Simon Coveney has confirmed that €40 million is available to develop sports infrastructure around the country, and is actively encouraging Cork clubs and sports organisations to prepare for the application process and register online now at sportscapitalprogramme.ie.
“I really want to see Cork clubs and organisations benefit as much as possible from this funding, and I’m encouraging all relevant local groups and organisations to prepare the necessary paperwork for their applications for this significant funding. My Fine Gael colleague, Minister for Sport Brendan Griffin, has confirmed to me that €40 million is going to be made available to develop sports infrastructure around the country under the Sports Capital Programme in 2018.”
Applications can only be made online from 9am on Friday September 7 until 5pm on Friday October 19, 2018. The Sports Capital Programme was reinstated by the last Fine Gael Government in 2012, after it had been cut by Fianna Fáil in the wake of the economic crash.
An Tánaiste Simon Coveney
“It represents an excellent value for money investment for society; it is crucial we invest in sport and the health of our population, particularly with obesity on the rise. Investing in sport is good for the health of the nation, both literally and economically. This scheme has proved very successful in getting much needed funding to our local clubs,” added Cork South Central TD and Tánaiste Simon Coveney.
The Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s primary vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. The programme can fund:
- Natural grass sports pitches, tracks and courts, including pitch drainage.
- Floodlighting.
- Artificial sports pitches, tracks, courts and multi-use games areas.
- Security fencing, ball stop netting and goal posts.
- Hurling walls and handball alleys.
- Building or refurbishment of dressing rooms, showers and toilets.
- Building or refurbishment of sports halls and gyms.
- Non-personal equipment, including lawn mowers and defibrillators.
- Any other capital projects that are clearly sporting in nature and that will increase participation in sport or improve performance.
Tanaiste Coveney said: “While the Sports Capital Programme is already hugely popular with sports clubs across so many different sporting disciplines, we are determined to make the application process as simple and user-friendly as possible.
“We undertook a detailed review of the 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme and the recommendations arising have been fully factored in to the new terms and conditions of the 2018 scheme. In particular, we are introducing some significant changes in our assessment methodology to ensure that we minimise the number of invalid applications.
“We will also give even greater priority to applications from disadvantaged areas and projects that promote the sharing of sports facilities with other clubs and the wider community.”
