The announcement that 11 sporting clubs in Dublin Fingal West will receive €288,000 in Lotto Equipment Sporting Grants has been warmly welcomed by all clubs involved.

The funding is part of a package of over €26m has been approved in equipment grants to 900 sporting organisations nationwide, the largest-ever funding for sports equipment under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.

The financial assistance will be of practical benefit to the 11 clubs, their members and athletes in the Dublin Fingal West Constituency said Cllr Tom O’Leary.

“I have lobbied the Department of Finance to substantially revise upwards the allocations under the National Development Plan for sports grants. We need to address the growing need for sports facilities as we are set to build 50,000 new Homes per annum Ireland and Fingal. In my opinion the fund needs to double or grow 100% to meet demand for new and upgraded sports facilities for our young vibrant population,” he said.

The 2023 Programme has generated 3,210 applications and total funding applied for is €359 million representing an 80% increase over the amount applied for in the 2020.

“The voluntary work done by club members needs to be supported by an increase in funding to this sector particularly in a year when we will celebrate Irish Athletes competing in the Olympics in France,” Cllr O’Leary added.

Work will now commence on assessing the “Capital” (all weather pitches, clubhouses etc…) and applications with the allocations to be announced later this year.