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Sports Capital Grant Scheme 2026

Apply for the Sports Capital Grant at the link above (the application phase will begin on 1st April 2026)

Please read the following guidelines carefully before completing the application form.

Cork City Council, through its Sports Grant Scheme, seeks to assist local voluntary sporting organisations and clubs in developing and enhancing sports and physical recreation throughout the City. The scheme is aimed at providing grant aid for the purchase of sporting equipment and the enhancement of facilities.

The scheme is not intended as an alternative to any Department Sports Capital Grant Scheme or other sources of funding, but will complement any such scheme, possibly helping with local contributions to satisfy criteria of other funding agencies or assisting with funding where certain works are not covered by other grant schemes.

A sum of €650,000 has been provided for the Scheme in 2026.

Scheme Details

Sports Programme Grants (Awards up to a maximum of €5,000)

This scheme will support sports programmes in enhancing or acquiring facilities such as premises and pitches, delivering sports programmes
and the purchase of non‑personal sports equipment with a minimum five‑year lifespan.

Major Sports Capital Grants (Awards from €5,000 up to a maximum of €10,000)

This Scheme will support capital investment projects within Sports Clubs. Funding will be awarded up to a maximum of €10,000.

Multi-Year Capital Grants (Awards up to a maximum of €30,000)

This Scheme will support capital investment projects within Sports Clubs for a period of two-years of funding. Funding will be secured up to a maximum of €30,000, with a maximum payment of €15,000 per annum. Please note: Successful applicants can only apply every two years.

*PLEASE NOTE: Each club and sporting pavilion can only apply for one grant from the three options available.

All applications are to be made here online, through Cork City Councils Submit Application Portal by Sunday 26th April, 2026 at 5.00pm.

Please click the blue 'Get Started' button to begin. You will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application. Please leave adequate time to submit your form by the closing date. Applications do not need to be completed in one sitting. Progress can be saved and resumed at another time. Please note that incomplete applications, or late applications cannot be considered.

Conditions of the Grant Schemes

Sports Programme Grants

Grant Application

  • The grant application must be from a local sporting organisation or club
  • Membership of the club or organisation must not be subject to restrictions and/or conditions
  • The grant applicant must be located within the City Boundary or provide evidence that the majority of those using the facility live within the City area as of 1st January 2026.
  • The grant application form must be completed in full along with supporting estimates/quotations attached. Please note that at least one quotation is required.

Proposed Works/Programmes

  • Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed works/equipment/programmes meet a sporting need in the area.
  • Applicants must provide costings and timeline for purchases/works/programmes.
  • Show evidence of expenditure, receipts/invoices must be retained and will need to be provided to Cork City Council when requested
  • The information supplied by the applicant group/club must be accurate and complete.

Insurances/Indemnity

  • In the case of building works, all buildings must be covered by a fire insurance policy, which fully indemnifies Cork City Council
  • Applicants will be required to indemnify the Council against all and any claims arising from its involvement with the works
  • Applicants should have appropriate Public Liability Insurance and, where necessary, Employers Liability Insurance and should ensure that any Contractor employed by them has an adequate level of cover
  • While the Council does not require copies of these insurances, this does not exempt the firms or applicants from their insurance requirements, nor does it exempt the Fund recipients from their responsibility to ensure the works and groups/firms carrying out the works are adequately insured

Other

  • Provide evidence of any other funding, evidence of own funding, and copy of previous two years club accounts
  • Undertake to refund Cork City Council for any grant given if the facility changes use or ceases to operate.
  • An acknowledgement sign will be required to be erected where appropriate
  • Inspections by Cork City Council of works/equipment funded by this scheme must be facilitated by recipients
  • Any subsequent changes to the proposal (from what was described in the original application) must be agreed in writing with the Council in advance of work commencing. Failure to do so may jeopardise the payment of the Council’s contribution
  • Successful applicants may not drawdown the current year’s grant allocation if an awarded allocation from the previous year remains undrawn
  • A maximum of one grant only will be provided to each qualifying club or organisation
  • The grants must be drawn down within twelve months of the date on which the Council notifies successful applicants of their allocation

 

Major Sports Capital Grants

Grant Application

  • The grant application must be from a local sporting organisation or club
  • Membership of the club or organisation must not be subject to restrictions and/or conditions
  • The grant applicant must be located within the City Boundary or provide evidence that the majority of those using the facility live within the City area as of 1st January 2026.
  • The grant application form must be completed in full along with supporting estimates/quotations attached. Please note that three quotations are required for grant applications greater than €5,000
  • In the case of building works, the applicant must have title to the property which they are enhancing, have a license or lease greater than 7 years, or provide a letter of comfort from the landlord in relation to title

Proposed Works

  • Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed works meet a sporting need in the area and are of a capital nature
  • Applicants must provide costings and timeline for project
  • Show evidence of expenditure, receipts/invoices must be retained and will need to be provided to Cork City Council when requested
  • The information supplied by the applicant group/club must be accurate and complete.

Insurances/Indemnity

  • All buildings must be covered by a fire insurance policy, which fully indemnifies Cork City Council
  • Applicants will be required to indemnify the Council against all and any claims arising from its involvement with the works
  • Applicants should have appropriate Public Liability Insurance and, where necessary, Employers Liability Insurance and should ensure that any Contractor employed by them has an adequate level of cover
  • While the Council does not require copies of these insurances, this does not exempt the firms or applicants from their insurance requirements, nor does it exempt the Fund recipients from their responsibility to ensure the works and groups/firms carrying out the works are adequately insured

Other

  • Provide evidence of any other funding, evidence of own funding, and copy of previous two years club accounts
  • Undertake to refund Cork City Council for any grant given if the facility changes use or ceases to operate.
  • An acknowledgement sign will be required to be erected where appropriate
  • Inspections by Cork City Council of works/equipment funded by this scheme must be facilitated by recipients
  • Any subsequent changes to the proposal (from what was described in the original application) must be agreed in writing with the Council in advance of work commencing. Failure to do so may jeopardise the payment of the Council’s contribution
  • Successful applicants may not drawdown the current year’s grant allocation if an awarded allocation from the previous year remains undrawn
  • A maximum of one grant only will be provided to each qualifying club or organisation.
  • The grant must be drawn down within twelve months of the date on which the Council notifies successful applicants of their allocation

Multi-Year Grants

Grant Application

  • The grant application must be from a local sporting organisation or club
  • Membership of the club or organisation must not be subject to restrictions and/or conditions
  • The grant applicant must be located within the City Boundary or provide evidence that the majority of those using the facility live within the City area as of 1st January 2026.
  • The grant application form must be completed in full along with supporting estimates/quotations attached. Please note that three quotations are required.
  • In the case of building works, the applicant must have title to the property which they are enhancing, have a license or lease greater than 7 years, or provide a letter of comfort from the landlord in relation to title

Proposed Works

  • Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed works meet a sporting need in the area and are of a capital nature
  • Applicants must provide costings and timeline for project
  • Show evidence of expenditure, receipts/invoices must be retained and will need to be provided to Cork City Council when requested
  • The information supplied by the applicant group/club must be accurate and complete.

Insurances/Indemnity

  • All buildings must be covered by a fire insurance policy, which fully indemnifies Cork City Council
  • Applicants will be required to indemnify the Council against all and any claims arising from its involvement with the works
  • Applicants should have appropriate Public Liability Insurance and, where necessary, Employers Liability Insurance and should ensure that any Contractor employed by them has an adequate level of cover
  • While the Council does not require copies of these insurances, this does not exempt the firms or applicants from their insurance requirements, nor does it exempt the Fund recipients from their responsibility to ensure the works and groups/firms carrying out the works are adequately insured

Other

  • Provide evidence of any other funding, evidence of own funding, and copy of previous two years club accounts
  • Undertake to refund Cork City Council for any grant given if the facility changes use or ceases to operate.
  • An acknowledgement sign will be required to be erected where appropriate
  • Inspections by Cork City Council of works/equipment funded by this scheme must be facilitated by recipients
  • Any subsequent changes to the proposal (from what was described in the original application) must be agreed in writing with the Council in advance of work commencing. Failure to do so may jeopardise the payment of the Council’s contribution
  • Successful applicants may not drawdown the current year’s grant allocation if an awarded allocation from the previous year remains undrawn
  • A maximum of one grant only will be provided to each qualifying club or organisation.

Eligibility

Other Conditions

  • Freedom of Information
    • Please note that information supplied in or accompanying this application may be made available under the Freedom of Information Act 2014
  • Discrimination
    • It is understood that your Organisation/Club does not deny access on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief, or membership of the Traveling Community without just, reasonable and proper cause.
  • Child Protection
    • It is understood that your Organisation/Club has proper child protection and welfare policies and procedures in place.
  • Data Protection
    • Cork City Council is committed to fulfilling its obligations imposed by the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018 and the GDPR. Our privacy statement and data protections policy is available at https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/public-info/gdpr. We request that you read these as they contain important information about how we process personal data.
  • Application Form
    • The application form is detailed and is designed to ensure that it has the necessary information to evaluate each proposal accurately and fairly. Please ensure that you complete the application form in full and that any documentation in support of your application is submitted with your application.

Only projects that meet the criteria outlined above will be considered eligible.

PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS OR LATE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.

For any queries please e-mail the Sports Section of Cork City Council at sports@corkcity.ie or call Paul Galvin - 021 4925515 / Eamon Hayes 021 2458310