New Sporting Initiatives Accounced

Minister Michael Ring yesterday (18th July) launched a number of initiatives to assist sporting organisations. Details of the schemes follow. Further information can be obtained from the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport 44 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Telephone: Local 1890 44 3311

“Minister Michael Ring has announced a special grant of €1.25m for boxing clubs to improve facilities and, in particular, facilities to accommodate female boxers. The special allocation is being administered by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.

He also announced two other initiatives which are aimed at Local Authorities. Under the first initiative, the Department has invited local authorities to apply for funding for sports facilities that will improve participation in sport. Decisions on allocations will be taken following assessment of the applications received. This is not a new round of the Sports Capital Programme. The emphasis will be on ‘shovel-ready’ projects that will create construction jobs and that can be completed before the end of the year.

Under the second initiative, the Department has written to local authorities interested in applying for grant aid towards the upgrading of energy and water conservation measures, and/or disabled access, for swimming pools. Local authorities applying for such funding will need to satisfy the Department that they can draw down the grant monies this year, and the emphasis therefore is very much on projects that can be completed before year-end”.