Minister for Tourism and Sport and Media Catherine Martin has announced at least €250m in funding under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.
The allocation is the largest to date, representing a 50 per cent increase on 2022 and 2020. Details of individual allocations to clubs, including watersport applicants, will be announced in the autumn.
As Afloat has reported, the 2023 round of the programme saw a record-breaking number of 3,210 applications.
Earlier in May, Martin and her junior sports minister Thomas Byrne confirmed that over €26m in equipment-only grants had been awarded to over 900 sports groups.
As Afloat reported, watersports secured €6,775,655 or 25% of the total allocation.
Since 1998, more than 13,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding, bringing the total allocations in that time to approximately €1.15 billion.
“I am delighted to have secured the largest ever allocation for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme,”Martin said.
“This is great news for sporting organisations throughout the country, their members and athletes. As a Government we have committed to 60% overall participation in sport by 2027,” she said.
“As we look forward to the Olympics just around the corner, today’s announcement is an important demonstration of the Government’s commitment to the sports sector and the communities that use the facilities to be funded. I look forward to announcing the sports clubs and organisations throughout the country who will get the funds,” she added.
