Clubs are being encouraged to get ready for the next round of the government’s Sport Capital Grant.
It’s expected that the Sports Capital Programme will open for applications in the coming weeks.
The Sports Capital Programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
In recent years, Riding Clubs have been allocated funding of almost €85,000 for the purchase of sports equipment.
If your club is considering applying under the Sports Capital Programme, you are encouraged to get prepared straight away, before the programme is launched. Here are some points to consider:
Is your club eligible?
Clubs in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply as they are non-profit sporting clubs.
The Sports Capital Programme is designed to support voluntary and community organisations to develop high quality, accessible, safe, well-designed, sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation. “Voluntary and Community” is the term to be aware of here. Commercial organisations are not eligible for this programme, only voluntary non-profit making organisations.
Does your club have a Tax Registration Number (TRN)?
Any club applying for this programme must have a TRN. This may take up to 10 working days to get confirmation of your TRN if you haven’t already got one. You should complete this form and return to your local Revenue Office:
Is your organisation registered on the OSCAR system?
OSCAR is the online system where all Sports Capital applications are processed. You must register your club before you can apply for a grant. This can be done RIGHT NOW!!! and we encourage you to do so. You can go to www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie and click Register. You will need your TRN in order to register. The Department will check and approve your registration and once your organisation is registered you are ready to apply once the programme is officially opened.
What does the programme fund?
In the “Guide to Registration” document that is available on the OSCAR website (link provided below also), there is a list of what the programme does and does not fund. Ahead of the programme being opened, you should consider what you are going to apply for? Is it eligible? You can also make contact directly with the Department should you have questions on what you intend to get funding for. The final bullet point below has a link to the Department that includes contact numbers.
What else should I know? Each club can only submit ONE application so prioritise what you want to apply for. Your club will be required to provide Match Funding at a minimum of 5% of the project total. You will get extra marks for providing a higher percentage of the project yourself.
Additional information can be found here:
- www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie
- www.gov.ie
- Guide to Registration (pdf) / Guide to Registration (Video)
- Sports Capital YouTube Channel
- Presentation on how to make an application
If you have any questions about the process, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
