Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has said that 23 North County sports clubs are to receive €1,436,456 in Government funding through the Sports Capital Grant.
Deputy Farrell said: “I am delighted that the funding announced today is going to benefit 23 clubs in the North County. Between them they will receive €1,436,456. Active engagement in sports not only helps keep young people healthy, but also builds confidence, independence and promotes team building.
“This important Government funding will greatly benefit sports clubs across Dublin Fingal over the coming year. The Sports Capital Programme was re-instated by Fine Gael in 2012, after it was cut by Fianna Fáil in the wake of the economic crash. It is a real lifeline for teams, clubs and organisations here in the North County.”
The Fine Gael TD was speaking as the successful applications under the Sports Capital Projects (SCP) were announced by Minister of State with special responsibility for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross.
Deputy Farrell continued: “The North County clubs and projects to benefit are:
| Balbriggan Golf Club | Modernisation Programme | €63,430 |
| Ballyboughal GFC | New Clubhouse with sports & welfare facilities | €98,898 |
| Beaverstown Golf Club | Mower | €34,331 |
| Corrstown Golf Club | Development of a Short Game Practice Facility | €40,201 |
| Donabate Portrane Community Centre Company | Donabate Portrane Community Gym Equipment Upgrade | €94,297 |
| Forrest Little Golf Club | Clubhouse, Toilet and Shower Refurbishment | €32,938 |
| Lusk United AFC | Ladies changing rooms & a referee’s changing room | €97,090 |
| Malahide Fingal Hockey Club | Equipment for training | €10,385 |
| Malahide United Association Football Club | Floodlights to New All Weather Pitch 2019 | €43,547 |
| O’Dwyers GAA Club | Playing Facilities Upgrade Programme | €63,833 |
| Portrane Athletic FC | Development of Grass pitches & Toilet Block | €44,664 |
| Portrane Hockey Club | Equipment | €9,227 |
| Rush Cricket Club | Playing & Equipment Upgrades 2018 | €33,944 |
| Rush Golf Club | Practice Facilities, Netting, teeboxes, Maintenance Equipment | €83,586 |
| Skerries Golf Club | Drainage and Short Game Skills Development Area | €127,049 |
| Skerries Rugby Football Club | New Floodlighting & Fence for All weather pitch | €46,146 |
| St Finians GAA | New Mower Funding + Sports Equipment | €54,872 |
| St Ita’s AFC LTD | Phase-2b: completion of all-weather pitch | €99,530 |
| St Maurs GAA club | Floodlights & upgrade works on St Maurs 3G Pitch | €129,206 |
| St Patricks GAA Club, Donabate | Floodlighting over Pitch 1 | €110,064 |
| St Sylvesters GAA Club | Floodlighting on Main Pitch in Broomfield | €58,252 |
| Swords Boxing Club | Dressing, Shower, Wash Rooms & Equipment Purchase | €30,587 |
| Wild Geese GAA Club | Pitch Fencing, Goalposts Etc. | €30,379 |
| Total funding | €1,436,456 |
“I know that the Dublin Fingal clubs and organisations receiving this funding today will make great use of it to the benefit of local communities.
“It is so important to encourage people to play sport. Not only is it good for their physical health but it benefits their mental health too. Supporting sports teams, clubs and organisations is also tantamount to supporting community engagement and helps to foster strong community spirit.
“Investment in sport is also a really worthwhile policy objective for Government from a health point of view. Society reaps the rewards through improved health of the population. This is more important than ever with the rise in obesity.
“I look forward to continued success for all of our local clubs and sporting organisations,” said the Dublin Fingal TD.
A total of €37m has been allocated to 994 different projects with 37 different sports benefitting. The 2018 round of the Programme saw the highest level of interest ever with 2,337 individual applications received.
Minister Ross stated. “Increasing participation in sport is the central aim of our National Sports Policy and to achieve our objectives we need to have appropriate sports facilities. The grants we are announcing today will significantly improve sports facilities right across the country. The vast majority of grants are going to voluntary organisations and I want to particularly thank all of the volunteers associated with these clubs for their tireless work and their commitment to improving their facilities to benefit all members.”
Minister of State Brendan Griffin T.D., highlighted the many improvements introduced in the application process: “Everybody involved in Irish sport knows the importance of the Sports Capital Programme. We have introduced significant changes to the Programme to make the whole process as user-friendly as possible including the simplification of the application form, giving applicants an opportunity to correct applications during the assessment phase and the introduction of an appeals system for unsuccessful applicants. While it was not possible to fund all applications received, the assessment process was designed to prioritise projects that shared facilities, that came from disadvantaged areas and did not receive substantial funding under the programme previously. In terms of the successful projects, the grants announced today benefit every county but there is also a huge spread of sports with 37 different sports receiving funding.”