COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
MOTION NO. 2
MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty
"That the Chief Executive provides further information on the protocol and level of financial and other details required for sports clubs in the electoral area covering Lucan and Palmerstown to submit when seeking funding for large projects such as clubhouses or indeed smaller projects such as equipment grants etc; as on several occasions clubs have been publicly lamenting lack of progress and calling on members to put pressure on elected reps to secure funding, while at the same time officials come back saying that details and ideas have been requested of club officials but have not been forthcoming. Confusion exists and perhaps needs to be clarified formally"
REPORT:
South Dublin County Council Support
There is a proposal that the Community Initiative Fund (CIF) be rebranded in 2018 as a Community Infrastructure Grant with a maximum grant set and a requirement for matching own funding.
If provided for in the 2018 Budget clubs may apply under this scheme for funding however it should be noted that each application will be considered on its own merits.
There is an equipment grant available through the Community Grants Scheme which is open to receive applications twice annually. The following information was provided in the most recent call for grant applications; each application is considered on its own merits.
Equipment Grant
- Major Equipment Maximum of €5,000 only applicable every 5 years
- Major Equipment Maximum of €3,000 only applicable every 3 years
- Minor Equipment Maximum of €800 annually This grant is intended for the purchase and replacement of equipment. Usually, expensive equipment is purchased occasionally, while smaller items of equipment may be required on an ongoing basis. To respond to this need, the grants scheme has been structured to allow for the grant aiding of major purchases every 3/5 years and smaller items in the intervening years.
Criteria:
- Demonstrate the need for the equipment.
- Submit existing project description.
- Provide details of cost of equipment.”
As well as this criteria any sports club must also meet the standard Community grant requirements listed below:
- Groups/organisations who apply for grant aid will be registered on the Community Groups Database.
- Application for a grant must be made on the official application form.
- Groups/organisations must be located within the County of South Dublin.
- Groups/ organisations availing of a grant must be formally established and must produce Articles of Association / Constitution.
- Bank accounts must be in the name of the group. The Voluntary Non-Profit Making Organisations Registration Form must be completed by the group and returned to the Revenue Commissioners. On receipt of a Tax Reference Number, a copy of same must be submitted to the Community Services Department.
- 12 Months Bank Statements must be submitted with application where applicable.
- Copy of Insurance must be produced and South Dublin County Council must be indemnified where appropriate.
- Full details of purpose of grant must be provided.
- If the proposed project impacts on the work of any Department of South Dublin County Council, the works must be agreed in advance with the relevant Department and evidence of this agreement provided.
- Application must be submitted prior to expenditure being incurred.
- In general, grants are not available to groups/organisations that receive core funding from other state agencies.
- Documentation, including receipts, must be produced as evidence of goods purchased or of works carried out. If groups/organisations have difficulties in this regard, South Dublin County Council will be prepared to discuss the matter with them to resolve the difficulty.
- South Dublin County Council’s grant contribution must be publicly acknowledged in all associated promotional material pertaining to the project and evidence of this must be supplied.
- In general, except in special circumstances, a group/organisation shall not receive a grant for the same purpose more than once in any twelve-month period.
- Community Grants are not available to individuals/organisations that are engaged in profit making activities.
- Since South Dublin County Council’s Grant Scheme contributes only a percentage of the overall cost of the project, groups must produce evidence that sufficient funds are on hand to finance the balance.
- All Groups must be register with the PPN (Public Participation Network).
National Sports Capital Programme
The Sports Capital Programme is administered by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS). The programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. The maximum level of funding is €150,000 for local facilities and €200,000 for National/Regional facilities.
The programme is currently closed for applications.
If and when it reopens the Council will inform clubs and work with clubs that are in a position to proceed.
In order to proceed there clubs must have a clear plan of what they want to achieve, how they plan to achieve it, how they would manage said facility if it were to be developed. There must be a clear need for the proposed facility development. Clubs wishing to progress are met with on an individual basis with an interdisciplinary team (comprised of members from the Community Department and Environment, Water, and Climate Change Department) where detail plans are presented to SDCC, to include proof of foundation funding etc.
If a clubs proposal is viable, South Dublin County Council, as land owner, makes the application through the DTTAS online system. The club making the request for assistance must have their own sufficient funds in place that will cover any additional costs of the project not covered under the Sports Capital Programme and bring the project to full completion.
The Councils interdisciplinary team will provide support and assistance to clubs throughout the process.