Minister announces €85million to improve sports facilities throughout Ireland

O'Donoghue announces €85 million to improve sports facilities throughout Ireland

Sports facilities throughout the country are to be again significantly improved with the announcement today that €85 million is being allocated to sports and voluntary organisations under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme.

Details of the funding, which is being allocated to 935 clubs and centres and to regional, municipal and national facilities were announced today (Thursday 5th April 2007) by John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Over 6,700 projects providing a range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocation of sports capital funding in that time to €568 million.

Making the announcement, Minister O'Donoghue said: "I am delighted to announce this significant level of funding to clubs and local community facilities throughout Ireland. The Sports Capital Programme has played a major role in the development of sport by allocating funding towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level 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.

"I am pleased, once again, to give special attention to sports projects in disadvantaged areas with a total allocation of over €41 million being provided throughout the country this year. This brings the number of projects that have benefited in disadvantaged areas since 2003 to €133 million," he continued.

While the majority of the funding allocated is to assist those in local clubs and bodies the length and breadth of the country, a number of strategically vital projects at a regional and national level will also benefit. Minister O'Donoghue said: "I am delighted also to provide assistance to further develop our network of top quality facilities which are of strategic significance to Ireland's sports development at key locations throughout the country. These important facilities cater for a wide range of sporting disciplines and are designed to meet the training, coaching and competition needs of players and athletes and of world-class elite individuals and squads. This funding will help extend and enhance this essential framework of facilities which we require for increasing participation levels and for improving standards of performance in top level sport."

Examples of the some of these projects funded include the provision of €3 million to the Munster IRFU towards the first phase of the major redevelopment of Thomond Park. Other projects of significance in this regard include the redevelopment of the RDS as a home venue for Leinster IRFU; the second phase of the redevelopment of Semple Stadium; the new stadium of Finn Harps FC in Ballybofey and the construction of a new stand for Waterford United FC; all of which are to receive €750,000 each. Also funded is a development for Cork County Athletics Board, vital refurbishment and upgrading works at Nenagh Indoor Athletics Centre as well as significant funding for Athletics Ireland and a number of other national governing bodies of sport for much-needed equipment for their clubs and competitors throughout the country.  

In keeping with Government policy, the allocations again reflect special priority for the development of sports and recreational facilities in areas designated as disadvantaged i.e. RAPID, CLAR and Local Drugs Task Force areas.  Projects that have been allocated sports capital funding in designated disadvantaged areas may also receive additional top-up funding under the CLAR and RAPID Programmes, administered by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.  A statement will issue from Minister Eamon س Cuيv at a later stage regarding top-up funding allocations under these programmes.

"Today’s announcement provides clear and unambiguous evidence of the Government's continuing commitment to the development of sporting facilities. This commitment is also very evident in the budget sport this year, which will see €295 million invested for sport, compared to just €17 million in 1997. Furthermore the National Development Plan 2007-2013 includes a commitment to provide €991m for sport under the aegis of my own Department during the period up to 2013", he continued.

"This Government's philosophy has always been about increasing participation in sport at all levels. This has been very evident in the level of funding that has been provided since 1997, which has seen over €900 million invested in sport. This was further demonstrated by today's allocations, which will make further significant improvements to the standard of sports facilities across the country. I have no doubt, that these grants will continue to play a pivotal role in attracting more people to participate in sporting activities and in ensuring that our emerging talent and top athletes and teams can prepare and compete in modern, high quality facilities around Ireland", Minister O'Donoghue concluded.    

Details of the allocations are attached

(ENDS)