In spite of the expected ‘hair shirt’ Budget in December, Mayor of Galway Michael J Crowe remains confident that the sports capital grant will still be introduced this year.
Mayor Crowe was speaking following his recent meeting with the Tourism and Sports Minister Mary Hanafin, who said she would give “serious consideration” to reintroducing the grants.
The mayor, who is chair of Renmore AFC, has been one of a number of councillors pushing for the reintroduction of the sports capital grants.
“Nobody expects the sums of money to be available for Galway such as the €170,000 we secured for Renmore AFC three years ago but I have been putting pressure on in the relevant quarters to have the scheme reintroduced,” he said.
However following the meeting, the mayor said he is now “hopeful of a positive outcome”.
He expects the revitalised sports capital programme to be announced in the coming weeks. He is calling on sports clubs intent on applying for funding to make contact with him or his fellow Fianna Fáil councillors for information on the scheme.
