Yesterday's grant to rugby was welcomed by the IRFU. The Minister allocated £300,000 to the Connacht Branch towards the development of facilities at the Sportsground in Galway city and £250,000 to Athlone, one of the home venues of first division Buccaneers.

"The grant is the most welcome initiative from the Government and the monies will contribute substantially to development," said IRFU hon treasurer John Lyons.

The grant for the Sportsground, where Connacht play their European Shield and Interprovincial matches, will be used to upgrade the changing rooms and build administrative offices while the Athlone money will be used to construct a new clubhouse and dressing rooms at the ground.

Minister Jim McDaid paid tribute to rugby's "imaginative projects" running in Tallaght which are designed to help young people in disadvantaged areas. He went on to explain that the grant allocations were a practical recognition of the immense voluntary commitment of those actively involved in promoting the sport at local level and nationally.