Sherlock urges East Cork clubs to prepare for new Sports Capital Round

Cork East TD Seán Sherlock has encouraged sporting organisations across the East Cork and Cobh areas to prepare for a new round of Sports Capital funding, with a new round expected in the coming weeks.

“The pandemic may have halted significant sporting activity but infrastructure is still needed in sporting organisations around Cobh and East Cork,” said Deputy Sherlock.

“The pandemic may have seen new viewpoints exposed in clubs and organisations on how they want to move forward with providing their particular activities for young and old. It is important that clubs prepare their plans now and are ready for when the announcement is made.”

Responding to a question on the matter by Deputy Sherlock, Minister Catherine Martin said:
The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) 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. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCP and to prioritise the investment in disadvantaged areas.

The most recent (2018) round of the SCP attracted a record 2,337 applications. Allocations were announced in January, May and November of last year with a total of over €56 million awarded to 1,648 different projects. All unsuccessful applicants were given the opportunity to appeal the Department’s decision. In relation to the capital grants announced in November, a total of 122 appeals were submitted by the December deadline. The review of these appeals was completed in April with 6 new allocations approved.

With regard to future rounds of the programme, a full Review of the 2018 round of the SCP has now been completed and the terms and conditions of the next round of the programme will be based on the recommendations in the Review. Work on these terms and conditions is now being finalised and an announcement in relation to the timing of the next round and the funding available will be made in the coming weeks.