Sports Capital Programme 2018 review

After every recent round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) a review was undertaken by the Sports Capital Programmes Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the process for future calls. The 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on Friday 19th October, 2018. By that deadline, a record 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding. Allocations were announced in January, May and November of 2019 with a total of over €56 million awarded to 1,648 different projects This review of the 2018 SCP has been prepared to identify aspects that worked well and those that can be further improved. It provides details of the applications received, the range of sports covered and how decisions on allocations were decided. A number of changes to the applications process were introduced in 2018 on foot of recommendations made in the review of the 2017 round and the effectiveness of each such measure is examined. An analysis of the effectiveness of the programme in achieving its overall objectives is also undertaken. Finally, a number of issues which have arisen in relation to how applications are assessed are highlighted with suggestions on some changes to be included in the terms and conditions of the next round of the programme.