Local TD welcomes funding for Kilkenny clubs under Community Sport Facilities Grants

Green Party TD for Carlow Kilkenny and Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan has welcomed the decision by his colleague, Minister for Sport Catherine Martin, to allocate additional funding to seven sports clubs and facilities in Carlow-Kilkenny under the recently announced Community Sport Facilities Fund.

The additional funding, totalling over €647,000, comes as a result of appeals by clubs and facilities that either missed out first time around or received significantly less than their maximum valid grant. The funding announced today includes a new grant of €156,000 for an astro turf playing surface at Queen of the Universe National School in Bagenalstown; a grant of €127,500 for Slieverue GAA club; €25,000 for Kilkenny County Council for the Ballyragget Recreational Amenity Area; and €141,600 for Kingsriver Community Fitness Studio.

In addition to new grants allocated, Ashgrove Pitch and Putt in Mooncoin received a significant top-up grant for a sprinkler system and security measures, while New Ross Golf Club and St Lachtain’s GAA club were also awarded additional funding to enhance their facilities.

Speaking at Kingsriver Community Fitness Studio today, Minister Noonan said:

“This is great news for the clubs, their management committees and their members and supporters who would have been so disappointed when these grants were initially allocated back in September. At that stage we were already celebrating a record amount of sports funding for Carlow and Kilkenny this year - over €10 million - and this is now an additional €650,000 to add to that overall figure. It’s a testament to this government’s commitment to increasing participation in sports that we’ve seen record levels of funding to support clubs, schools and local authorities to expand, enhance and better-equip their facilities.

“Sports clubs have always been at the heart of our communities, and anything that helps them keep providing the space and the opportunity for people to come together and participate in healthy activities and share in the success of a local team or a local athlete is to be welcomed. I’m always happy to support any local club or facility in appealing a grant decision and glad to see such a positive outcome for the clubs and facilities that have been successful in their appeals.”

Green Party Councillor for Kilkenny City Maria Dollard, who sits on the Board of Kingsriver Community Fitness Studio added:

“As a long-time board member of Kingsriver, and Mum to Lucy, who attends the service, I can safely say that the investment in our service is a reflection of the commitment of Kingsriver staff and board to providing the best of facilities and services to our participants and indeed the wider community with whom we hope to share these facilities. It’s a fantastic investment in Kingsriver and a fantastic investment in the community of Stoneyford and Ennisnag.”