I am delighted to confirm that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have announced that €30m is being made available under the Sports Capital programme to develop sports infrastructure around the country.

Applications will be open from the 23rd January to the 24th February, 2017. If your club has not previously registered on the Department’s online application system, they need to do so in advance of this date, and I would encourage your club to register now. A guide to making an application was also published on the Department’s Sports Capital Programme website, available at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie

In a welcome development, the application process has been simplified to ensure clubs do not lose out on technicalities. A regional workshop will take place in the New Year, and I would urge you to send a delegate to ensure your application has the best chance of success.

I have repeatedly called on the Ministers in the Department to open this programme since I became a TD, and I am delighted this has now finally come to fruition.

I will work towards the restoration of funding for sports bodies and towards ensuring the Sports Capital Programme is established on a regularised, annual basis.

Dublin North West is traditionally very good at putting a case forward for funding in the Sports Capital Grants and I hope this year will be no different. If you need any advice or assistance with the Sports Capital Programme or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact my office.