Sports Capital Programme is restored

Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy has urged local sports and voluntary organisations to apply for funding under the newly restored Sports Capital Programme.
The Shannon-based senator said the €30m programme, details of which were announced by the Government on Wednesday, offers valuable financial assistance to organisations that are considering undertaking various developments and improvement works.
Senator Mulcahy said the programme was hugely beneficial to sporting organisations throughout the county before it ceased in 2009.
“Prior to being withdrawn, this vitally important community funding scheme played a major role in the development of sport in County Clare by allocating funding towards the provision of sports facilities and, in doing so, thereby assisting the fantastic efforts of both the volunteers who are the backbone of sport and also the many thousands who play sport, at whatever level,” he explained.
Senator Mulcahy noted the wide range and number of local organisations that received funding during the programme’s previous existence reflected the passion and commitment of people in Clare to promoting recreational and sports activities.
“The scheme will also be open to far more clubs and groups than ever before, because a strict requirement on landownership has been relaxed. In the past, all applicants had to own their land or have it on a long lease. The Government has decided that these clubs will now be able to apply for grants of up to €25,000 to upgrade facilities,” he commented.
Senator Mulcahy said the newly restored programme would also feature a strong emphasis on projects that increase active participation in sport, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
“Under this scheme, pitches will be drained, floodlights will be installed, sports halls will be improved and dressing rooms will be built,” he said.
He also urged groups making applications to familiarise themselves with the conditions of eligibility, particularly in relation to local funding and planning permission, where applicable.
The minimum amount of matching funding which clubs and organisations will need to provide themselves in order to apply for a grant has been halved from the previous round of the programme in 2008.
Groups in RAPID areas will only need to raise a minimum of 5% of the project cost in order to apply; groups in CLÁR areas will only need to raise a minimum of 10% of the project cost in order to apply while groups in non-disadvantaged areas will only need to raise a minimum of 15% of the project cost in order to apply.
Clare organisations and projects that have received funding under the programme in the past include Ennistymon Recreation & Leisure Centre, Tulla Soccer Club, Crusheen GAA Club, Kilfenora Heritage Association, Killaloe/Ballina Tennis Club, Bodyke GAA Club, Corbally United FC, Lisdoonvarna Fáilte, Kilmurry/Ibrickane GAA, Kilrush Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club, Cumann Peil Cuar an Chláir, Lissycasey GAA Club, Mullagh Sports Field, O’Callaghan’s Mills GAA Club, Scariff GAA Club, St Pat’s AFC in Kilmihil and Scariff RFC.
Application forms and information about how to apply is available on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.