Ministers announce €230m in grants for sports facilities

Eva Osborne

The Government has announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase two of the Community Sport Facilities Fund.

Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne, announced 1,996 grants for new and improved sports facilities and equipment across the country.

The record allocation will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities in Ireland.

Ms Martin and Mr Byrne were ed by Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe at Cambridge FC in Ringsend, Dublin, to announce the record funding.

Over 40 separate sports, as well as multi-sport facilities throughout the country, will benefit from the community sports grants announced on Wednesday.

Each application was assessed under criteria including population density, deprivation and access to facilities. Unsuccessful applicants can appeal any grant applications deemed invalid.

Speaking at the announcement in Ringsend on Wednesday, Ms Martin said: "Sport is vital to our sense of togetherness and community, from local clubs to professional and high-performance teams and athletes.

"Each and every one of these grants represents a project that will create a new or improved opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport to the best of their ability.

"Clubs will be better able to serve their communities with the help of this fund. For example 194 clubs are getting funding to install solar s, 317 clubs are getting funding for LED floodlights and 966 projects will include improvements to pitches."

Martin said these "vital improvements" and new facilities will add to the equipment allocations announced earlier this year to ensure that more people than ever have access to the sports they love in their local areas.

Mr Byrne said: “Over a quarter of a billion euro is being invested in sports clubs and facilities under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.

"This level of sports funding is unprecedented and will prove transformative for sports clubs and facilities in communities across Ireland.

"As a Government, we are committed to providing everyone, of every age and ability, with the opportunity to participate in sport and this record allocation for sport demonstrates that commitment."

Byrne said the inspiring performance of Team Ireland at the Olympics and Paralympics recently in Paris demonstrated the "positive power of sport and we understand that any sporting journey begins within the community".

"The record funding being announced today under the Community Sport Facilities Fund underlines this Government’s continued commitment to seeing Irish sport thrive into the future.”

Mr Donohoe said: “This Government is committed to ing sport at all levels, from grassroots and community-level facilities right up to our high-performance athletes on the world stage. Sport adds so much to our lives, as spectators, beginners or those who are excelling in their field.

"The mental and physical benefits are immeasurable. Ensuring adequate investment means that our participants have good facilities at their disposal and can train to compete to the best of their ability, whatever that is.

"After such a successful summer for our Olympians and Paralympians, it’s great to have an opportunity to underline our investment in sport for everyone, in every community across the country.”