Community Sports Facilities Fund: 2023 in Review  

– Adam McCormick, Consultant – Funding

The Community Sports Facilities Fund, (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Fund) is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assists in the purchase of non- personal sports equipment. 

In 2023, over €277 million was allocated to 3,048 sporting projects under CSFF, making it the largest level of funding to date. Below, we have produced some key findings which provide an insight into how funds were allocated across the country in terms of county regions and by sporting domains. 

Key findings  

The average success rate of applications gaining an allocation amount was just under 95% indicating the departments intention to support grassroots sports to drive participation numbers across the county. 

Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Donegal, Meath, Tipperary, Clare, Wexford, Kildare, Mayo and Waterford. Each of the counties listed, all submitted applications in the hundreds via a range of sports clubs and community groups ranging between 104 to 451 applications per county.

Wicklow, Westmeath, Louth, Kilkenny, Laois, Sligo, Roscommon, Offaly, Cavan, Carlow, Monaghan, Leitrim and Longford. Each of these counties listed, only submitted below 100 applications per county ranging from as low as 29 up to 93 applications.  

There is a strong correlation between counties with a large number of applications and the overall total allocation amount provided to individual counties. Therefore, indicating the importance of communities getting ‘grant ready’ and submitting applications, as the old saying goes “you can’t win, if you’re not in”.  

Top 3 sports of: Gaelic games, Soccer and Multi-Sport, achieved a combined allocation of €205 million, equating to nearly 75% of all funds allocated. Thus, leaving just over 25% of the funding programme for all other sports. This is largely due to the high number of applications submitted from these sports organisations which amounted to just over 2,000 applications, equivalent to 62.5% of all applications submitted during the last round. It is worth noting that these 3 sports applications also amounted to over €264 million which was equal to nearly 74% of the total amount applied for in all applications. The rate of success between these 3 domains gaining allocation varied between circa. 92% and 97% which is how they have gained such substantial investment. 

A number of sports received 100% success rates from application to successful allocation due to their relatively low uptake in the funding programme. For example, Badminton submitted 14 applications for 14 successful allocations. However, this is a long way off the total badminton clubs across the country that could better avail to the funding opportunity. 

From the data collected, there is some ‘food for thought’ as there is a major opportunity for some sporting organisations to make a big push in the next round to gain some invaluable levels of funding across the country. This is particularly relevant for those from counties who in the past have not submitted many applications and the same can be said for those sporting backgrounds who again did not submit many applications in relation to the quantity of clubs in their domain nationally.  

Additionally, in understanding the relationship between application submission to allocation amount, it is suggested that those applying should avail to maximising their potential by considering everything they could gain funding for, from an essential needs perspective to a strategic development to meet future needs. Whether that is for an equipment only application, and/or a local or regional capital application, the suggestion remains, review what is needed in totality and apply within your individual financial limits and the boundaries of the funding programme. Anything otherwise, is doing yourself a disservice while others are capitalising on the opportunity. 

Taking the First Step

If you’d like support in developing or strengthening your organisation’s funding strategy or support with a funding application, get in touch with Patricia Keenan at patricia.keenan@2into3.com to explore how we can assist you.