Hockey Ireland is delighted the sport will receive almost €870,000 from the latest round of Sports Capital Grant Allocations with 41 equipment-based projects set to benefit directly.
Welcoming the news, Hockey Ireland CEO Jerome Pels said: “This is fantastic news for hockey and this allocation will have a significant, positive impact on the development of our sport and the ability of our clubs to deal with the increasing interest in taking up hockey!
“We would like to thank the Ministers for their support and we are looking forward to reporting back on the impact of the capital funds injection.”
In total, 33 clubs are set to benefit from the allocation while both the Leinster Hockey Association and Munster Hockey will be able to avail of extra funding for their projects.
Hockey Ireland was allocated €145,248 for six areas: Growing Junior Club Capacity (€29,539), Coach Education (€1,689), Masters (€3,828), National School Mass Participation (€55,912), Grassroots Camps (€6,887) and Indoor and JAG development (€47,393).
Capital allocations are due to be made in the Autumn; a number of new pitches, pitch resurfacing and LED floodlight upgrades have been applied for under this scheme.
The grants are part of an overall €16.6 million package of equipment grants announced by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, T.D, and the Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, T.D.
“Today I’m delighted to announce good news for hundreds of sports organisations right around the country,” stated Minister Martin when releasing the news.
“Sports Capital and Equipment funding is another example of Government helping sporting communities through these challenging times; supporting clubs and organisations to provide the facilities necessary to achieve our objectives of increased participation in sport; and help realise the immense benefits that physical activity can bring to our lives.
“Today’s grants will assist sports clubs and National Governing Bodies of Sport purchase the sports equipment to hopefully develop our sporting heroes and Olympians of the future.
“In terms of choosing the successful projects, the full assessment procedure and scoring system was published in advance. Priority was given to projects that will increase participation, that are located in areas with higher levels of socio-economic disadvantage and to organisations that did not receive significant funding under the Programme previously.
“In terms of how applications were scored, I am particularly pleased that an even greater emphasis was placed on encouraging increased women’s participation in sport.
“We remain committed to further capital investment in sport and while today’s grants relate mainly to relatively small equipment purchases, later this year we will announce the allocation of grants for capital projects under the Programme.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, Jack Chambers T.D., highlighted the diversity of projects being funded: “I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants in receipt of grant funding today, particularly the volunteers at club level who made the applications and are the lifeblood of clubs and sporting organisations all over the country.
“Under this year’s programme, funding is being allocated to the clubs, schools and organisations which are striving to serve all of the community and especially those groups where there are traditionally lower participation levels. There is also a particular focus on promoting and growing female participation levels across our sports.
“Apart from the pleasure we all get from watching an event like the Olympics, the health benefits associated with sports participation are well documented and we want people to have every opportunity to get involved.
“As well as applications from local sports clubs, I am delighted that over €2m is being provided for sports equipment for National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). Amongst the organisations to benefit under today’s grants are the FAI, Rowing Ireland, Swim Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland as well as dozens of others.
“I am also delighted that we are providing €1.4m for projects deemed to be of “regional” significance. Amongst these grantees are a number of county ladies football associations, Leinster Athletics and the Irish Homeless Street leagues.”
| Hockey Ireland | |
| Growing Jnr Club Capacity | €29,539.00 |
| Coach Education | €1,689.00 |
| Masters | €3,828.00 |
| Nat School Mass Participation | €55,912.00 |
| Grassroots Camps | €6,887.00 |
| Ashton HC | €20,023.00 |
| Avoca HC | €34,418.00 |
| Bandon HC | €8,091.00 |
| Belevedere HC | €7,899.00 |
| Blackrock HC | €6,959.00 |
| Castletroy | €6,760.00 |
| Clonakilty HC | €17,904.00 |
| Clontarf HC | €46,602.00 |
| Corinthian HC | €45,000.00 |
| Dublin North HC | €8,718.00 |
| Enniscorthy HC | €17,621.00 |
| Fermoy | €2,160.00 |
| Galway HC | €21,479.00 |
| Genesis HC | €4,338.00 |
| Gorey HC | €10,387.00 |
| Kilkenny HC | €39,269.00 |
| Kinsale HC | €11,087.00 |
| Kinvara HC | €21,063.00 |
| Leinster Hockey Association | €22,069.00 |
| Limerick HC | €36,088.00 |
| Midleton HC | €15,716.00 |
| Monkstown HC | €14,540.00 |
| Muckross HC | €32,055.00 |
| Mullingar HC | €13,354.00 |
| Munster Hockey | €35,280.00 |
| Naas HC | €8,370.00 |
| Navan HC | €50,000.00 |
| Our Lady’s HC | €11,131.00 |
| Rathgar HC | €10,500.00 |
| Renmore HC | €13,615.00 |
| Skerries | €47,500.00 |
| Tipperary HC | €25,018.00 |
| Tullamore HC | €12,240.00 |
| Wexford HC | €19,336.00 |
| Yeats Co | €5,333.00 |
| YMCA HC | €22,614.00 |
** Laois Sports Partnership Ltd was also allocated €26,043 for their hockey for primary schools project.