Irish government creates €30m facilities fund

Sports clubs in Ireland will be able to bid for a share of a €30m (£25.3m, US$31.3) funding pot being made available by the government for facilities and equipment.

Grassroots bodies wanted to apply for Sports Capital Programme grants can do so between 23 January and 24 February 2017.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross and minister of state for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan revealed the fund.

Ross said the fund was a “integrated and planned approach to developing sport and recreation facilities”.

“The new programme provides an opportunity for further improvements and I would urge all organisations with a suitable project to consider making an application,” he added.

O’Donovan said: “I was determined to make the application process as simple as possible and in this regard we have significantly shortened the application form, issued new guides for completing the form and my Department is also arranging a series of regional workshops in the new year to assist applicants.”

The Irish government is making a concerted effort to invest in sport, and has unveiled a number of funding pots for grassroots clubs and organisation over the course of the year.

Like its UK counterpart, the Irish government published a comprehensive strategy for sport earlier this year.