The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr James McDaid, today announced that almost €76 million has been allocated under the Sports Capital Programme 2002.
In what is the largest ever allocation by the Government for sports and recreational projects, 850 local, municipal, regional and national projects will benefit from the grants.
Clubs in the Minister's home county of Donegal fared very well, getting €5,039,000 of the grants. By comparison, clubs in Carlow got €489,000, while Laois got €809,000. Dublin’s clubs will benefit to the tune of €21,454,900, while Cork will see €7,251,000.
The funding represents a €19.8 million (35 per cent) increase in funding over last year's allocation.
Dr McDaid said: "Today's announcement means that in the past five years, since this Government came to office, an impressive total of over €210 million has been allocated to clubs and community groups to improve local sports and recreational facilities, large and small in almost every parish in all parts of the country.
"These figures show that funding for local sports and community projects has been increased to an unprecedented level in these five years," he said.
Dr McDaid said that one of the key elements of Government policy in relation to the development of sport and recreation is to encourage participation, particularly among disadvantaged communities.
"A significant number of projects being funded today are projects that are located in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. These areas were identified under both the RAPID and Clár Programmes. These Programmes represent a focused initiative by the Government to target the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in both urban and rural areas," he said.
The Minister also said he considered the grants announced today to be an integral part of developing Ireland's sporting infrastructure. "It is vitally important that everybody participating in sport at a local level is afforded the opportunity to develop and enhance their skills.
"By putting in place quality facilities throughout the country this Government is making that a reality," he said.
