Mayo TD welcomes opening of new sports funding round
Fine Gael TD for Mayo Keira Keogh has welcomed the announcement of the next round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund, saying she knows many clubs across Mayo have been eagerly awaiting the details and are already well advanced in planning projects for their communities.
Deputy Keogh said: “I know there are clubs right across Mayo that have been waiting for this announcement and have already put a huge amount of work into identifying what their club and community needs. Now that we have the details, the opportunity is there to turn those plans into strong applications.
“We have seen first-hand here in Mayo what Sports Capital funding can do for a community. “A great example is Westport Athletics Club and the new athletics track at Horkan’s Hill. “That was a project driven by the club and the local community, supported through Sports Capital funding, and today it is being used not only by the athletics club but by local schools and other groups. There are examples right across Mayo of clubs using Government funding to improve pitches, changing facilities, equipment and sporting infrastructure. These projects make a huge difference, particularly in rural communities where the local sports club is often at the heart of community life.”
Deputy Keogh said the changes to the application process are particularly welcome for smaller and volunteer-led clubs. “I know only too well how much time our volunteers already give to keeping clubs going. They are coaching, fundraising, organising fixtures, maintaining facilities and doing all of the day-to-day work that goes on behind the scenes. Then when a funding opportunity comes along, they can find themselves facing another substantial application process. Anything we can do to make that process more straightforward and accessible is welcome.
“My message to clubs across Mayo is, now is the time to bring those plans together, make sure everything is in order and put forward the strongest application possible.
“This is an opportunity to think ambitiously as well. The new funding levels, particularly the introduction of grants of up to €750,000 for larger multi-sport projects, could open the door for projects that previously may have been difficult for communities to progress. I would also particularly encourage clubs to look at opportunities to work together or with local schools where that makes sense. If we can develop facilities that are being used by children during the school day and by clubs and the wider community in the evenings and at weekends, we are getting much greater value from that investment.”
Registration for the new funding round will open on September 28 through the Department’s new SPRAOI online system. Organisations already registered on the previous OSCAR system will automatically transfer to the new platform. Applications will open on October 19 and remain open until February 26, 2027.
Deputy Keogh added: “If any club in Mayo is unsure about the scheme or wants help understanding the process, please get in touch with my office. I want to see Mayo clubs putting forward as many strong applications as possible and securing our fair share of this investment.”