1. Community Sport Facilities Fund 2026 – formerly Sports Capital Grant
The Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) is the Government's main funding programme for sports clubs and community organisations to develop facilities and purchase non-personal sports equipment. The 2026 round replaces the former Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and introduces a new application system, SPRAOI.
The fund could be relevant to hillwalking and climbing clubs looking to develop or improve club facilities, purchase suitable equipment or undertake larger capital projects. Potential projects may include improvements to climbing facilities, club premises, storage, accessibility improvements or other eligible infrastructure and equipment projects.
Key dates
- 28 September 2026: Registration opens on SPRAOI
- 19 October 2026: Applications open
- 26 February 2027: Applications close
The 2026 scheme provides increased funding levels, including up to €250,000 for local projects, with larger regional projects potentially eligible for grants of up to €750,000, depending on the relevant funding tier and eligibility criteria. Equipment-only grants are also available, with funding of up to €70,000 indicated for eligible projects.
Clubs that were previously registered on the Department's OSCAR system should have their details transferred automatically to SPRAOI, but should check that their information is accurate and up to date. Clubs not previously registered should register on SPRAOI before applications open.
Important: The full 2026 Information Guide and Terms and Conditions are due to be published in October. Clubs should therefore check the final guidance before submitting an application, as eligibility and supporting documentation requirements may differ from previous funding rounds.
Register and find information on the Community Sport Facilities Fund
2. Texaco 'Support for Sport' Club Funding Initiative
A second opportunity is the Texaco Support for Sport initiative, which is now open for applications from sports clubs throughout the Republic of Ireland.
The initiative will award €5,000 to one successful sports club in each of the 26 counties, providing a total fund of €130,000. The scheme is open to clubs across all sporting disciplines, including clubs involved in outdoor sports.
To be eligible, clubs must:
- Be based in the Republic of Ireland.
- Be affiliated to Mountaineering Ireland.
- Be properly constituted.
- Hold a valid Games and Sports Exemption Number (GS Exemption Number) and feature on the Revenue list published on 2 July 2026.
- Submit one application per club.
- Not have previously received a Texaco Support for Sport award.
The application itself is straightforward. Clubs are asked to submit a maximum 250-word statement explaining what the club does, its importance and positive impact within the community, and how it would use the €5,000 award. A copy of the club constitution must also be submitted.
For a hillwalking or climbing club, this could be an opportunity to highlight the contribution your club makes locally, for example, increasing participation in outdoor recreation, introducing people to hillwalking or climbing, supporting youth or women's participation, developing volunteers and leaders, or making equipment and activities more accessible.
Applications are open until 6pm on 21 January 2027.
Apply for the Texaco Support for Sport initiative
Start preparing now
Both opportunities are worth discussing at your next club committee meeting. Think about what your club needs, identify a clear project and start gathering the information you will need to support your application.
For the Community Sport Facilities Fund, clubs should begin preparing their proposal while waiting for the final 2026 guidance. For Texaco Support for Sport, consider what makes your club distinctive and the difference a €5,000 investment could make to your members and wider community.
Mountaineering Ireland encourages affiliated clubs to explore these opportunities and make use of available funding to support the development of sustainable clubs.