Ireland: Sports Capital Grant Scheme 2023

Deadline: 31-Mar-23

Cork City Council through its Sports Capital Grant Scheme, seeks to assist local voluntary sporting organisations and clubs in developing and enhancing sports and physical recreation throughout the City.

The scheme is aimed at providing grant aid to projects that are directly related to enhancing facilities and must be of a capital nature.

The scheme is not intended as an alternative to any Department Sports Capital Grant Scheme or other sources of funding, but will complement any such scheme, possibly helping with local contributions to satisfy criteria of other funding agencies or assisting with funding where certain works are not covered by other grant schemes.

Funding Information

• A sum of €470,000 has been provided for the Scheme in 2023.
  • Minor Sports Grants (Under 5k)
    • This Scheme will allow for minor capital grants towards enhancement of premises, pitches etc., as well as allowing for the purchase of non personal sports equipment that will be used for at least five years.
  • Major Sports Grants (€5k – €10k)
    • This Scheme will allow for capital grants to develop sport and active recreation facilities throughout the City.

Eligibility Criteria

• Grant Application
  • The grant application must be from a local sporting organisation or club;
  • Membership of the club or organisation must not be subject to restrictions and/or conditions;
  • The grant applicant must be located within the City Boundary or provide evidence that the majority of those using the facility live within the City area as of 1st January 2023;
  • The grant application form must be completed in full along with supporting estimates/quotations attached. Please note that one quotation is required for grant applications less than €5,000 and three quotations for grant applications greater than €5,000;
  • The applicant must have title to the property which they are enhancing, have a license or lease greater than 7 years, or provide a letter of comfort from the landlord in relation to title.
• Proposed Works
  • Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed works meet a sporting need in the area and are of a capital nature;
  • Applicants must provide costings and timeline for project;
  • Show evidence of expenditure, receipts/invoices must be retained and will need to be provided to Cork City Council when requested;
  • The information supplied by the applicant group/club must be accurate and complete.
• Insurances/Indemnity
  • All buildings must be covered by a fire insurance policy, which fully indemnifies Cork City Council;
  • Applicants will be required to indemnify the Council against all and any claims arising from its involvement with the works;
  • Applicants should have appropriate Public Liability Insurance and, where necessary, Employers Liability Insurance and should ensure that any Contractor employed by them has an adequate level of cover;
  • While the Council does not require copies of these insurances, this does not exempt the firms or applicants from their insurance requirements, nor does it exempt the Fund recipients from their responsibility to ensure the works and groups/firms carrying out the works are adequately insured.
• Other
  • Provide evidence of any other funding, evidence of own funding, and copy of previous two years club accounts;
  • Undertake to refund Cork City Council for any grant given if the facility changes use or ceases to operate;
  • An acknowledgement sign will be required to be erected where appropriate;
  • Inspections by Cork City Council of works/equipment funded by this scheme must be facilitated by recipients;
  • Any subsequent changes to the proposal (from what was described in the original application) must be agreed in writing with the Council in advance of work commencing. Failure to do so may jeopardise the payment of the Council’s contribution;
  • Successful applicants may not drawdown the current year’s grant allocation if an awarded allocation from the previous year remains undrawn;
  • A maximum of one grant only will be provided to each qualifying club or organisation but if the juvenile or ladies side of the club is completely separate then a separate grant would be considered on a case by case basis.
  • All grants must be drawn down within twelve months of the date on which the Council notifies successful applicants of their allocation.

For more information, visit Cork City Council.