Govt announces €173m funding for 35 sports projects

The Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and the Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne have announced grants totalling €173m benefiting 35 individual projects.

This is the second phase of investment from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund which has now allocated €297m since 2020.

Making the announcement at Dalymount Park in Dublin, which will receive more than €25m for a redevelopment of the pitch and stadium, Minister Martin said: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the personnel and supporting organizations and indeed local authorities who worked with us through this funding process, which is all about creating better facilities, not just for our elite athletes.

"We need them for our elite athletes to make sure they can get where they need to go, but also for all people of all ages. This is about participation in sport, so that everyone can participate and stay involved in sport."

Minister for State Thomas Byrne said: "I think we have a really good mix of sports right around the country, there's really good investment in football, but also in the GAA, basketball, water sports all around the country, spread very well geographically."

The projects approved for funding include the redevelopment of Sligo Rovers' Showgrounds stadium, which received €16.4m, and the Cavan Regional Sports Campus which received €19m.

The funding will also benefit pitches and facilities for GAA, soccer, athletics and other sports clubs across the country.