Key dates for Community Sport Facilities Fund announced

The Government have announced the key dates for this year's round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF).

A new system for managing grants, called SPRAOI, went live on Monday, September 28. This opens up grants for clubs that were not previously registered with the Department, as they can now register through SPRAOI.

The Government say that around 8,000 clubs and organisations that were registered on the previous grant system have now been transferred to the new one. The window for funding will open on Monday, 19 October, to Friday, 26 February 2027.

The maximum grant has increased from €200,000 to €250,000 for local projects; for Regional Tier, the maximum grant has increased from €500,000 to €550,000.

For Regional Tier, including larger multi-sport projects introduced with a maximum grant of €750,000, mainly for Local Authorities and Governing Bodies.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, said: “I want people of all ages and abilities to have access to good sporting facilities in their own communities, where they can get active, develop their talents and enjoy sport."

“This new round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund increases the maximum grants for local and regional projects and introduces a new €750,000 funding tier for larger, shared facilities."

“The new tier will encourage Local Authorities and National Governing Bodies to work together on facilities that support several sports and serve the wider community. My priority is to ensure this investment gives more people the opportunity to take part in sport, now and for generations to come.”

Minister of State of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Charlie McConalogue 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."