Ministers Martin and Byrne invite applications under Phase II of the Sports Energy Support Scheme

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, today 10 May 2023, re-opened the application process for the Sports Energy Support Scheme. The purpose of the €35m Fund, which was secured as part of Budget 2023, is to support the rising energy costs associated with the provision of sport.

Minister Martin said:

“I am acutely aware of the effect that rising energy costs have had on sports clubs and organisations throughout the country and, for this reason, Minister Byrne and I are reopening the application process and extending the eligibility period to the end of May. The Government is committed to sustainably growing participation levels in all sports, across all sectors of society and this funding will enable continued access to sports facilities, so vital of course to health and wellbeing in communities.”

In addition, Minister Byrne said:

“The re-opening of the Sports Energy Support Scheme demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to supporting our sports clubs and facilities across the country. To date, €21 million in Government funding has been distributed under Phase I of the Scheme. This funding has significantly alleviated the impact of increased energy costs on sports clubs and organisations and allowed them to continue to provide access to sport and physical activity over the winter months. 

I urge all eligible sports organisations, clubs and facility providers to engage with your respective National Governing Body or Local Sports Partnership to ensure that you avail of your full entitlements under Phase II of the scheme.” 

Sports clubs and organisations which received funding under Phase I of the Scheme, for the period up to 31 March, are now eligible to apply for funding of their energy costs for April and May 2023.

In addition, sports clubs and organisations which did not previously make an application during Phase I, are able to make an application for funding.

Under Phase II, community-owned sports facilities not specifically affiliated to an NGB or who do not currently qualify for TBESS or other Government schemes, can now engage with their Local Sports Partnership (LSP) to ascertain if they are eligible to qualify for funding. This aims to ensure maximum support is provided to grassroots sport.

The closing date for applications to the Sports Energy Support Scheme is Friday, 26 May 2023.

Depending on the level of submissions, the outcome of those deliberations will be communicated to NGBs and LSPs in July 2023, with the distribution of funding commencing shortly afterwards.

Funding guidelines have been disseminated to all relevant NGBs and LSPs.

All queries should be directed to the relevant Sport Ireland Recognised National Governing Body of Sport or Local Sports Partnership.

To date, €19.2m has been distributed through Sport Ireland Recognised National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) to support over 2,000 affiliated clubs and facilities. In addition, €1.8m of funding was provided to the National Sports Campus, bringing the total amount of funding distributed by Sport Ireland to date to €21m.

Tá iarratais á lorg ag an Aire Martin agus Byrne faoi Chéim II den Scéim Tacaíochta Fuinnimh Spóirt

Inniu, an 10 Bealtaine 2023, d’athoscail an tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, Catherine Martin TD, agus an tAire Stáit don Spórt agus don Chorpoideachas, Thomas Byrne T.D., an próiseas iarratais don Scéim Tacaíochta Fuinnimh Spóirt. Is é cuspóir an Chiste €35m, a fuarthas mar chuid de Bhuiséad 2023, ná tacú leis na costais fuinnimh ardaithe a bhaineann le soláthar spóirt.

Ag labhairt inniu, dúirt an tAire Martin:

“Tuigim go rímhaith an éifeacht atá ag costais fuinnimh a ardaíodh ar chlubanna agus eagraíochtaí spóirt ar fud na tíre agus, mar gheall air seo, tá an tAire Byrne agus mé féin ag athoscailt an phróisis iarratais agus ag síneadh na tréimhse incháilitheachta go dtí deireadh mhí na Bealtaine. Tá an Rialtas tiomanta do leibhéil rannpháirtíochta i ngach spórt a mhéadú ar bhealach inbhuanaithe, i ngach earnáil den tsochaí agus beidh rochtain leanúnach ag áiseanna spóirt ar an maoiniú seo, rud atá ríthábhachtach ar ndóigh do shláinte agus folláine i bpobail.”

Ina theannta sin, dúirt an tAire Byrne:

“Tá áthas orm fáilte a chur roimh an bhfógra seo maidir leis an Scéim Tacaíochta Fuinnimh Spóirt a athoscailt. Tá maoiniú €21 milliún a dáileadh faoi Chéim I tar éis maolú suntasach a dhéanamh ar thionchar na gcostas méadaithe fuinnimh ar chlubanna agus eagraíochtaí spóirt agus ligean dóibh leanúint ar aghaidh ag soláthar rochtana ar spórt agus ar ghníomhaíocht choirp le linn mhíonna an gheimhridh.

Mholfainn do gach eagraíocht, club agus soláthraí incháilithe spóirt teagmháil a dhéanamh lena gCoiste Náisiúnta Rialaithe nó Comhpháirtíocht Áitiúil Spóirt faoi seach chun a chinntiú go mbaineann siad leas as a dteidlíochtaí iomlána faoi Chéim II den Scéim.” 

Beidh iad siúd a fuair maoiniú faoi Chéim I incháilithe cur isteach ar mhaoiniú le haghaidh mhí Aibreáin agus Bealtaine 2023.

Is féidir le clubanna agus grúpaí nár chur isteach iarratas faoi Chéim I páirt a ghlacadh i gCéim II.

Faoi Chéim II, is féidir le saoráidí spóirt faoi úinéireacht an phobail, nach bhfuil cleamhnaithe go sonrach le Coiste Náisiúnta Rilaithe Spóirt nó nach gcáilíonn faoi láthair don Scéim Shealadach Tacaíochta Fuinnimh do Ghnóthaí nó scéimeanna Rialtais eile, teagmháil a dhéanamh lena gComhpháirtíocht Spóirt Áitiúil anois chun a fháil amach an bhfuil siad incháilithe le haghaidh maoinithe. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an gCéim seo a chinntiú go gcuirtear an tacaíocht is mó ar fáil do spórt an phobail.

Is é an 26 Bealtaine 2023, an dáta deiridh le haghaidh iarratas ó na heagraíochtaí sin.

Ag brath ar mhéid na n-aighneachtaí, cuirfear toradh in iúl do na Coistí agus agus Comhpháirtíochtaí i mí Iúil 2023 agus cuirfear tús le dáileadh an mhaoinithe go luath ina dhiaidh sin.

Scaipeadh treoirlínte maoinithe ar gach Coiste agus Comhpháirtíocht ábhartha.

Ba cheart gach ceist a sheoladh chuig an gCoiste Náisiúnta Rialaithe nó Comhpháirtíocht Áitiúil Spóirt Aitheanta de chuid Spórt Éireann.

Go dtí seo, dáileadh €19.2m trí Choistí Náisiúnta Rialaithe Spóirt Spórt Éireann chun tacú le breis agus 2000 club agus saoráid comhcheangailte. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireadh maoiniú €1.8m ar fáil don Champas Náisiúnta Spóirt, rud a d’fhág gur €21m an maoiniú iomlán a dháil Spórt Éireann go dtí seo.