News

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Donegal T.D., Charlie McConalogue, today welcomed over €5.6m in sports capital and equipment funding for clubs and sports of all types right throughout County Donegal.

Commenting on the announcement Minister McConalogue said “This record funding announcement for Donegal’s sports clubs and groups is tremendous news and the fact that Donegal has received the 6th highest allocation nationwide is testament to the success of sports in our County and the hard-work of all the staff, volunteers and participants of the clubs. The pandemic was a tough time for all of these clubs and groups and for everyone who participates in sports and it is great to see activity in sport in Donegal now better than ever. This funding will also help to boost our local communities in supporting a wide range of clubs from the scouts group in Carndonagh to rugby, GAA and soccer clubs right throughout the County.”

The Minister concluded “I thank my colleagues Ministers Martin, McGrath and Chambers for making this record funding allocation and all the clubs, groups and societies for their continued great work.”

The record level funding allocation announced today was achieved with the support of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath T.D., and it reflects Government’s ongoing support to Sport during the Covid pandemic as it emerges from the challenges of the past two years. It reflects the funding challenges facing clubs across the country, the unprecedented number of applications received and the vital role that sport plays in supporting community and individual wellbeing, a role that came into sharp focus during the pandemic.

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.  Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion.

By the closing date for applications (1 March, 2021) under this latest round, 3,106 applications had been submitted seeking over €200m in funding.  This is the highest number of applications ever received. The scoring system and assessment procedures were finalised and published prior to assessment work commencing and all applications were assessed in accordance with these procedures.

Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for ‘equipment-only’ projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6m were announced on 6 August 2021.

Full details of all allocations announced today are set out on the Department’s website at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/.

All unsuccessful applicants will be given the opportunity to appeal the Department’s decision and information on the appeal process will issue to relevant organisations in the coming weeks. €6 million has been set aside to cover successful appeals under this process.

ENDS