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Sports Capital and Equipment Programme

For the 2026 round: up to €250,000 for a local project and up to €70,000 for equipment only. A larger regional project shared by two or more clubs or led by a national governing body or local authority can get over €250,000 and up to €550,000. A further band up to €750,000 is open only to local authorities and national governing bodies. The last round paid up to €200,000 local and €500,000 regional.

Last checked October 2026 · Updated 13 October 2026

What it is

Capital grants for sports clubs and community organisations to build or improve sports facilities and buy equipment. For the 2026 round, local grants go up to €250,000 and equipment-only grants up to €70,000. Regional grants over €250,000 and up to €550,000 are for larger projects with a multi-club or multi-sport character, with a few single-club exceptions listed in the guide. A further regional band over €550,000 and up to €750,000 is open only to local authorities and national governing bodies, with no equipment. Applications open on 19 October 2026 and close at 5pm on 26 February 2027. gov.ie now calls it the Community Sport Facilities Fund, formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Fund, so you will see both names. It runs in rounds through SPRAOI, the Department's new system, which replaces OSCAR from 28 September 2026. The thing clubs get caught by is registration. Registration on SPRAOI opened on 28 September 2026. The 2026 guide gives no registration closing date and in the last round it closed 14 days before applications did, so a club that waits can be locked out with a perfectly good project. Registration needs your organisation's Tax Registration Number. Schools and third level can apply, but only jointly with a sports club.

The 2026 grant rate is up to 95% for local grants, which means the club funds at least 5%. Regional grants are at up to 70% and the club must show capacity to provide the other 30%. Maintenance equipment is capped at €40,000 in any 5 years. Spectator stands are capped at €40,000. National governing bodies cannot apply for local grants or equipment-only grants. Where the depreciated balance of grant funding received is over €650,000, a legal charge has to be created. A pilot for up to 5 clubs in Donegal and Mayo whose premises are severely affected by defective concrete blocks can apply for a regional grant of up to €550,000, payable at 95%. The rules for the pilot are due before the end of 2026.

The 2026 guide drops the requirement for clubs to supply documentary proof of their own funding, but the 95% local rate still means the club pays at least 5% of the project cost.

To apply you need one quotation or pre-tender estimate for each element. At formal approval the Department needs evidence of title, the final grant of planning permission (or confirmation that planning is not needed) and three comparable quotations for each element. You will be asked to acknowledge the club's obligations under the Equal Status Acts, and the Department may ask for proof of not-for-profit status. On capital grants over €50,000 the final 10% is held back and released subject to conditions, including a letter from your Local Sports Partnership confirming the club follows a Sport for All ethos.

Who can get it

You are a not-for-profit sports club or community organisation (all income goes back into the organisation, not to owners)
For a local grant of up to €250,000 you own the land or hold a lease registered with Tailte Éireann with 10 or more years remaining. An unregistered lease with 10 or more years remaining supports up to €175,000. Regional grants need owned land or such a registered lease
With a lease of 5 to under 10 years remaining you can apply for up to €100,000 a round. With a shorter lease or no lease you can apply for equipment only, up to €70,000

Good to know

Figures from the Department's 2026 Community Sport Facilities Fund information guide: local grants up to €250,000, regional grants over €250,000 and up to €550,000, and equipment grants up to €70,000. Regional grants are for larger projects shared by two or more clubs or led by a national governing body or local authority, with a few single-club exceptions listed in the guide. A top regional band over €550,000 and up to €750,000 is open only to local authorities and national governing bodies and does not cover equipment.
Clubs that do not own a facility can apply for an equipment-only grant of up to €70,000.
Here is where the 2026 round stands. Registration on SPRAOI opened on 28 September 2026. Applications open on 19 October 2026 and close at 5pm on 26 February 2027 and no late or partial applications are accepted after that. The last round closed at 5pm on Friday 8 September 2023 and paid out 1,996 grants worth €230.3 million.
A club must be not-for-profit and open to new members from the general public, with annual membership fees and once-off entrance fees each below €1,500. In general a club makes one application, with some exceptions for bodies such as local authorities and national governing bodies. Schools and colleges apply together with a local club.
Do not start works, sign contracts or order anything until you have formal written approval. An application for a project where works have already commenced is invalid, and a conditional offer is not guaranteed funding. You do not need proof of title when you apply, but you will need it at formal approval.

How to apply

Applications go through Dept of Sport. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.

Go to the official page →

Checked against the official source on 7 October 2026. Last updated on 13 October 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.

Questions people ask

How much can a club get from the Sports Capital Programme?

For the 2026 round: up to €250,000 for a local project and up to €70,000 for equipment only. A larger regional project shared by two or more clubs or led by a national governing body or local authority can get over €250,000 and up to €550,000. A band over €550,000 and up to €750,000 is open only to local authorities and national governing bodies. In the last round it was up to €200,000 local and €500,000 regional.

Who can apply?

Not-for-profit sports clubs and community organisations that are open to new members from the general public. For the largest local grant you need to own the land or hold a registered lease with 10 or more years remaining.

Can we apply if we rent our pitch or hall?

Yes, but the grant depends on the lease. An unregistered lease with 10 or more years remaining supports up to €175,000. A lease of 5 to under 10 years remaining supports up to €100,000 a round. A shorter lease or none means equipment only, up to €70,000.

When does the Sports Capital Grant 2026 open, and what is the deadline?

Registration on SPRAOI opened on 28 September 2026. Applications open on 19 October 2026 and close at 5pm on 26 February 2027 and no late or partial applications are accepted after that. SPRAOI, the Department's new grant system, replaces OSCAR from 28 September 2026. Clubs already registered on OSCAR have been moved across automatically but should check their details. New clubs can register from 28 September. The 2026 guide gives no registration closing date and in the last round registration closed a full 14 days before applications did, so register now rather than waiting. For guidance, email CSFF2026Queries@ccs.gov.ie. Budget 2026 allocated €58 million to the fund. The last round closed at 5pm on 8 September 2023.

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