2026 Community Sport Facilities Fund: Applications Opening
September 24, 2026
The 2026 Community Sport Facilities Fund is set to open shortly, providing sports clubs, community organisations and other eligible groups with an opportunity to secure funding towards the development of facilities and the purchase of sports equipment.
The Community Sport Facilities Fund is the Government’s primary programme for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment across Ireland. The 2026 round introduces a number of changes, including increased funding limits, a new tiered structure and a new online registration system designed to make the application process more straightforward.
Key Dates
Clubs and organisations should begin preparing now, with registration for the new funding round opening on Monday, 28 September 2026.
The key dates are:
- 28 September 2026 – Registration opens through the new SPRAOI online system
- 19 October 2026 – Applications open
- 26 February 2027 – Application window closes
A detailed Information Guide, including the full terms and conditions for the 2026 round, is due to be published during the week commencing 12 October.
Organisations that were previously registered on the OSCAR system will have their registration transferred automatically to the new SPRAOI platform. Clubs are encouraged to check that their details are accurate and up to date once transferred.
Who Can Apply?
The fund is available to a range of sports and community organisations, including:
- Voluntary, not-for-profit sports clubs
- Community groups
- National Governing Bodies of sport
- Local authorities
- Schools, third-level colleges and Education and Training Boards, where applying jointly with an eligible sports club or organisation
The 2026 round also places greater emphasis on partnerships, including collaboration between sports clubs and schools to develop shared sporting infrastructure.
For Leinster Hockey clubs, this could provide an opportunity to explore projects that improve facilities, increase participation and create better sporting environments for players, coaches, volunteers and the wider community.
What Funding Is Available?
One of the biggest changes for 2026 is the increase in the available grant levels.
The new structure includes:
Equipment-only grants – up to €70,000
Funding is available for the purchase of non-personal sports equipment, subject to the terms of the scheme. Equipment-only grants of up to €70,000 are available, although National Governing Bodies and Tier 2 applicants are excluded from this category.
Local projects – up to €250,000
Local projects can seek grants of up to €250,000, with a maximum grant rate of 95%. This category is intended to support smaller-scale facility development projects.
Regional Tier 1 – €250,000 to €550,000
Larger projects can apply for funding between €250,000 and €550,000, with a maximum grant rate of 70%.
Regional Tier 2 – €550,000 to €750,000
A new higher tier has also been introduced for larger projects, with grants of between €550,000 and €750,000 available at a maximum grant rate of 70%. These grants are for capital projects only, with equipment excluded.
The new structure is designed to provide greater scope for clubs and communities to progress larger infrastructure projects that may previously have been outside the available funding limits.
What Could Clubs Use the Funding For?
Previous rounds of the fund have supported a wide range of sports infrastructure and equipment projects, including pitch developments, floodlighting, dressing rooms, walking tracks and other community sporting facilities.
For hockey clubs, potential projects could include improvements to playing facilities, upgrades to club infrastructure, equipment purchases or larger projects delivered in partnership with other organisations, subject to the final 2026 eligibility rules.
The new emphasis on collaboration may also be particularly relevant where clubs and schools can work together to develop facilities that can be used by young people during the school day and by clubs and the wider community outside school hours.
Start Preparing Now
Although applications do not open until 19 October, clubs can begin preparing their projects now.
Committees should consider what their club needs most, identify potential projects, begin gathering relevant information and obtain quotations where appropriate. Clubs planning larger projects should also consider whether there are opportunities to work with local schools, other sporting organisations or community groups.
The full Information Guide and Terms and Conditions will provide the definitive eligibility and application requirements when published in October, so clubs should review these carefully before submitting an application.
The 2026 round also includes a strong focus on ensuring facilities provide equal access for men and women, alongside a wider emphasis on a “sport for all” ethos.
Further Information
The Community Sport Facilities Fund is administered by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. Further information, including the registration process and the detailed 2026 application guide, will be made available through the Department as the new round progresses.
Clubs interested in applying are encouraged to begin preparing now so that they are ready when applications open on 19 October 2026.
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