Ireland community and sports funding initiatives

The Irish government is transitioning the 2026 Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) to a new online grant management system named SPRAOI, which has replaced the previous OSCAR system. Announced by Ministers Patrick O’Donovan TD and Charlie McConalogue TD, the platform was scheduled to go live on 28 September 2026.

The fund is designed to support sports infrastructure and the purchase of non-personal equipment for eligible groups, including voluntary not-for-profit clubs, community groups, local authorities, schools, and third-level colleges. Applications are scheduled to open on 19 October 2026 and will remain open until 26 February 2027.

Recent updates from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport have introduced increased grant limits and a revised funding structure. While previous details indicated local capital projects could receive up to €200,000 and regional projects up to €500,000, these limits have been raised to €250,000 and €550,000 respectively.

A new ‘Regional Tier 2 pilot category’ has also been introduced, offering up to €750,000 for large shared multi-sport facilities. This specific tier requires applicants to provide evidence of 30% match funding and must be managed by a National Governing Body (NGB) or local authority. Minister of State Charlie McConalogue emphasized that the fund aims to support volunteers and improve accessibility for all genders.

In a related development, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has also opened applications for its 2027 Grants Scheme, which covers community development, environmental projects, and cultural activities, with a submission deadline of 23 October 2026.