Sports Capital Grant Programme 2008 (and 2008 grant allocations)

Sparks

From the ISC website (and most of you will see this in the papers today):

Brennan Announces Sports Capital Programme for 2008

Mr. Séamus Brennan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism announced today (Friday, 11th January 2008) the opening of the 2008 Sports Capital Programme, which will be formally advertised in the national press on Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th of January.

Welcoming the opening of the programme Minister Brennan stated "I am delighted to be able to announce the 2008 Sports Capital Programme. The Sports Capital Programme is the main vehicle for Government support for the building of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment with over 6,700 projects assisted since 1998. Practically every town and village has benefited from sports capital funding with allocations since 1998 totalling €675 million."

Sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level as well as VECs and local authorities are invited to apply under the programme. The deadline for paper based applications is 5pm on Friday 29th February. Applicants using the Department's online system have until 5pm on Friday 7th March.

Further details of the scheme and application forms will be available from the Department's website, www.dast.gov.ie, from Monday the 14th of January or by calling 1890 273000 ext. 7372, 7338, 7304 or 7369.

ps. I'm going to temporarily sticky this in the hope that more clubs/associations will take it up!

rrpc

DO's and Don'ts for an application.

Have your part of the money in place by the time you lodge your application and have proof of it. Many applications fall on this vital ingredient. You must have 30% of the total cost of your project in your bank account.

Get as many letters of support for your application as possible. Governing Body, local schoools, local community groups etc.

Have at least three quotes from suppliers of the product/service you are buying.

Always have an explanatory document submitted as part of your application, the form only gives so much information and you need to supply a good deal more background info.

If your application will benefit disadvantaged, young people, disabled or women then say so. These are vital ingredients.

Get the support of your local Minister/Government TD/TD/Councillor for your project in that order of importance/effectiveness. Political support is a must. Supply them with a full copy of your application.

Don't lie, exaggerate or make misleading statements! You will be caught out and never get the opportunity to apply again.

Don't delay, get started now. Start filling out the form, getting money together and writing your background documentation. The more you have done early, the less you'll have to do when the deadline looms.

No amount is too small, Don't let low expectations stop you, the smallest grant allowable is €2,000. That means you only have to have €857 in your account. A club could get a good few club rifles for that money.

Good luck!

Sparks

Unstickying this now. Did anyone apply for funding under the grant scheme?

rrpc

Sparks wrote: »

Unstickying this now. Did anyone apply for funding under the grant scheme?

We (RRPC) didn't this year because we're still paying off the loan from the last little foray into SCG territory.

The NTSA were going to apply for the purchase of equipment testing gear but ran out of time between getting our funding and the deadline. Stupid Germans kept asking stupid questions instead of just quoting us.

"Vot is your address for ze shippingk?"

"It's a quote, not a bloody invoice"

We got the first quote 10 days after the deadline having requested them 10 days before the deadline

Sparks

Aw blat.
*bangs head off desk*
Still, I suppose the application can be recycled and just submitted next year.

rrpc

Sparks wrote: »

Aw blat.
*bangs head off desk*
Still, I suppose the application can be recycled and just submitted next year.

I know, but it's a lost opportunity and really annoying. We really, really could have used the equipment and that money will never be there again. Mind you we'll still have to go through the whole getting quotes rubbish again, because they can't be more than three months old at application time.

Sparks

From the DoAST website:

Cullen - 682 Sports Projects benefit from €50 million in Government Investment

Martin Cullen, TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, today (29 July 2008) announced allocations totalling €50 million to 682 separate sports projects around the country under the 2008 Sports Capital Programme. This Programme, which is part-funded by the National Lottery and administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is the primary vehicle for Government support for the provision of sports facilities and equipment around the country.

Speaking in the Government Press Centre, Minister Cullen TD said: "Today's allocations build upon the excellent work of previous rounds of the Programme and continue to support dedicated community spirit and reward local volunteerism. Every pitch that is laid, every changing room that is built and every piece of sport equipment bought, will allow more people to take part in a huge range of sports and help them to achieve their full potential in their chosen sport."

Minister Cullen TD added: “Since 1998, through the Sports Capital Programme, the Government has invested over €725 million in almost 7,400 separate sporting projects. This investment has transformed the Irish sporting landscape with improved facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities funded range from new equipment for the smallest clubs, to regional integrated multi-sport centres and national centres of sporting excellence.” The Minister continued: “At a local level, for example, these allocations announced today will allow 17 boxing clubs to buy new sports equipment and improve their gyms. These allocations will also help in the provision of pitches, the building and fitting out of dressing rooms and club houses and the installation of floodlighting for soccer, hockey, rugby and GAA clubs across the country. Every single county will benefit.”

The Minister commented: “I am also delighted to be allocating €18.3 million to sports such as tennis, athletics, swimming, handball, judo, volleyball and to community/multi-sports centres that can accommodate sport and other activities.”

Minister Cullen concluded: “The fact that funding of €50 million is being provided to 682 separate sports infrastructure projects demonstrates the importance that this Government places on sport. Sports facilities that are well-planned, built and managed have the ability to act as focal points for a community and allow more people to get involved in healthy activities. Participation in sport is important for many reasons. For individuals, participation has health benefits, builds confidence and gives people a sense of their worth. For society as a whole, sport can reduce anti-social behaviour while sporting success has the ability to lift the spirits of whole counties and even the whole country.”

A full list of the allocations under the 2008 Sports Capital Programme is attached.

The full list of allocations is here.

The amounts that shooting groups got were:
Courtlough clay pigeon club|€16,000
Glenfarne gun club|€2,000
Moydow gun club|€5,000
Ballivor clay pigeon club|€15,000
Lough Bo|€4,000
That's a total of €42,000 and that's before you think about including the €10,000 that went to two pony clubs as well (who might be using it for tetrathlon shooting). That's twice the overall grant from the Sports Council this year. Well done all!

Next years grants may see cutbacks, accoring to the Sunday Business Post, but nonetheless, all clubs and NGBs ought to be applying to this grant scheme. One of the few advantages in our sport is the longevity of our equipment - that longevity means that virtually everything we use in a club is eligible for grant aid under this programme. Rifles, pistols, shotguns, target holders, electronic targets, electric clay throwers, clubhouse buildings, the whole lot (bar actual targets and ammunition) can be applied for; and this year only 30% of the money had to be put up by the local club for local facilities.

Folks, start thinking about the 2009 grants now because you don't have that much time - by the time they announce the opening date, you should already have decided to go for one and have some rough cost estimates and be chatting to your local TD about support...

rrpc

Sparks wrote: »

Next years grants may see cutbacks, accoring to the Sunday Business Post, but nonetheless, all clubs and NGBs ought to be applying to this grant scheme.

It's actually this years allocation that was cut back. Last year (2007) €85 million was given out and it was brought forward to October so that allocations could be announced before the election

This year, the grant scheme wasn't announced until January, so they've also added almost four months to the time span between allocations.

This grant scheme was supposed to be financed from the National Lottery funds, so it was relatively exchequer neutral. Obviously the funds are going to be allocated elsewhere now. :mad:

Sparks

D'Oh on the misreading, but €42,000 is still worth filling in a form and doing a little legwork for...

rrpc

Sparks wrote: »

D'Oh on the misreading, but €42,000 is still worth filling in a form and doing a little legwork for...

€10,000 and less would be worth it. It's the cynical manipulation of the grants and their announcements that steams me.

Sparks

If that's the only thing that steams you rrpc, you're well off