Applications are being sought from sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs.

Since 2014, 230 clubs and leagues around the country received €11,738,167 in funding for numerous projects.

Amongst the projects funded in 2015 were the AUL (€160k), Athlone Town (€200k), Salthill Devon (€20k) and North Tipperary Schoolchildren's League (€200k).

What you can apply for: • Natural grass sports pitches, tracks and courts (including pitch drainage) • Floodlighting • Artificial sports pitches, tracks, courts and multi-use games areas • Security fencing, ball stop netting and goal posts • Building or refurbishment of dressing rooms, showers and toilets • Building or refurbishment of sports halls and gyms • Modifications to sports facilities to improve access for people with disabilities. • Non-personal sports equipment including gym equipment1 , lawn mowers and defibrillators. Anything set in the ground (such as goal posts) is not considered equipment. • Any other capital projects that are clearly sporting in nature and that will increase participation in sport or improve performance

Applications can be made from 9am on Monday, January 23, at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. The deadline for registration is 5pm on Friday, February 10, 2017. If your organisation is not registered on OSCAR (Online Sports Capital Register) by 5pm on February 10, 2017, you will not be able to make an application. If your organisation has already registered, you do not need to register again. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday, February 24, 2017.The online system will be shut down at this time and no late or partial applications will be accepted. For details on how to register or apply for the 2017 Sports Capital Programme please go to https://www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie/

A blank sample application form is also available for download and can be viewed here

Some Do’s and Don’ts

Do

If you are applying for Regional or National Status you will need a letter of support from the FAI.  You do not need one for local applications.

If you are making a joint application make sure that all of the parties to the application are registered on the OSCAR portal prior to 5pm on April 10th next

Make sure that you follow the templates word for word.  Failure to do so will make your application invalid.

Even though the programme asks for a minimum contribution of funding if you can demonstrate that you can provide 25% or more you will receive a significantly larger number of points and thus improve your chances of getting funding.

Try to get all of the documents together as soon as possible and make sure they are dated within the last 3 months, even if you used them in last year’s application.

Don’t

Don’t be late starting or submitting your application

Don’t use documents that were submitted last year.  They need to be dated in the last 3 months

Don’t forget to read the guidelines very carefully while completing each section of the application.