Press release:
Minister McConalogue launches new round of Community Sports Facilities Fund
Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue, has announced the 2026 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF).
Speaking about the new round of the CSFF, the Donegal Minister of State said: “Every week, thousands of volunteers across Ireland give their time and energy to keeping our sporting organisations running. The Community Sport Facilities Fund is about supporting that commitment by helping those organisations provide the facilities and equipment their communities need. I am pleased that we are increasing the maximum grants available while also making several practical changes to the application requirements.”
“Participation and inclusion remain central to this programme. We want facilities that are accessible to women and men, and projects that demonstrate a genuine commitment to sport for all. I would encourage every eligible organisation to familiarise themselves with the information available on the new programme and use the coming months to prepare a strong application,” he added.
An information guide, setting out key terms and conditions, is now available online at gov.ie/SportsCapital
Key details of the new round, including a number of innovations, are as follows:
· Local projects: maximum grant increased from €200,000 to €250,000 and greater collaboration with schools is encouraged.
· Regional Tier 1 (former “regional” projects) maximum grant increased from €500,000 to €550,000.
· New Regional Tier 2, for larger, multi-sport projects introduced with maximum grant level of €750,000, targeted at Local Authorities and Governing Bodies.
· Minimum lease term reduced from 15 to 10 years, mandatory requirement to have registered lease is removed.
· Administrative simplifications introduced to enable more organisations to qualify for the Fund.
The CSFF is the Government’s primary vehicle for providing support to sports clubs and communities to develop sports infrastructure around the country.
A new grant management system, SPRAOI, has been developed to accept applications and any clubs and organisations in Donegal not previously registered with the Department can now register on SPRAOI. The new round of funding will close for applications on Friday, February 26th, 2027.
The information guide (terms and conditions) is published on the Department’s website at gov.ie/SportsCapital
Ends
By Sinéad Breen Communications Officer Fri 2nd Oct
