The Irish Government has released details about their Community Sport Facilities Fund, and the GAA looks set to receive the biggest windfall from it.
It was announced that 1,996 grants, with a total value of €230m for new and improved sports facilities and equipment, will be distributed throughout Ireland under the newly named Community Sport Facilities Fund. This is the largest ever figure and is 50% higher than two years ago.
Over 40 different sports, as well as multi-sport facilities across the country, will receive varying levels of investment for their respective sports.
The GAA will see around €97 million invested in the sport, while soccer in Ireland, at both League of Ireland and grassroots levels, will receive €41 million worth of funding.
Golf (€11.4m) and rugby (€10m) have also received their share, while Irish athletics will benefit from close to €4m.
Largest ever funding announcement for sports facilities w/ €256m invested in community sport & recreation in 2024. This money, under the Community Sport Facilities Fund, will ensure all participants have good facilities & can train to the best of their ability, whatever that is. pic.twitter.com/SQeqINId7a
— Paschal Donohoe (@Paschald) September 25, 2024
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D., said: "Sport is vital to our sense of togetherness and community, from local clubs to professional and high-performance teams and athletes. Each and every one of these grants represents a project that will create a new or improved opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport to the best of their ability.
“These vital improvements and new facilities will add to the equipment allocations announced earlier this year to ensure that more people than ever have access to the sports they love in their local areas."
Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne, added: “This level of sports funding is unprecedented and will prove transformative for sports clubs and facilities in communities across Ireland. As a government, we are committed to providing everyone, of every age and ability, with the opportunity to participate in sport, and this record allocation for sport demonstrates that commitment."
Here is a full breakdown of the investment promised this week:
