SPORTS CAPITAL O'Donoughue announces Capital Grants in excess of €21million

O'Donoghue announces over €21 million for National, Regional and Municipal/Multi-purpose Sports Capital Projects

Mr. John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism today (Wednesday 12th July 2006) announced allocations to the value of €21.254 million to 78 National, Regional and Municipal/Multi-purpose sports projects around the country under the Sports Capital Programme administered by his Department.

Today's announcement, in addition to the allocation last month of €53.745 million to 719 local sports projects, brings to almost €470 million the amount allocated since 1998 towards the provision of facilities under the programme. A total of 5,721 projects providing a range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998.

The funding being announced today provides assistance to National Governing Bodies, facilities of national and regional significance and multi-purpose projects catering for a number of sports.

The Minister said, "I am particularly pleased to be able to announce this further funding to national, regional and municipal/multi-purpose projects. Major advances have been made in recent years in developing major facilities of strategic significance to Ireland's sports development at key locations throughout the country. We now have a network of top-notch facilities, catering for a wide range of disciplines, which are designed to meet the training, coaching and competition needs of competitive players and athletes and of world-class elite individuals and squads.
This funding today will help extend and enhance this essential framework of facilities which we require for increasing participation levels, for improving standards of performance in top level sport. I am also happy to make allocations to multi-purpose centres that cater for a range of sporting activities and fitness levels. For many projects this comes against the background of continued funding under the programme over a number of years. "

The type of projects being allocated funding include equipment allocations for NGBs, stadium development for GAA, Rugby and Eircom League clubs, floodlighting, tennis courts, all-weather pitches and additional facilities for leisure centres.

PLEASE SEE TABLE OF ALL GRANTS ATTACHED BELOW - INCLUDING FOUR GRANTS FOR OVER €1million
ENDS