Munster GAA Development Grants

The overall scheme consists of two schemes rolled in to one. The Central Council Scheme has a budget of €640,000, while the Munster Council Scheme has a budget of €490,000. This gives an overall budget of €1,130,000

The scheme consists of 8 categories, with all apart from Category 5, funding activity at club level. Category 5, which deals with County Ground Development, has its own budget under the Munster Council Budget Framework and is not part of the €1,030,000 outlined above.

Central Council funds categories 1, 2, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e and 8, while the Munster Council funds all 8 categories. Please note that the one application form will suffice for both schemes.

Each category has an expenditure ceiling, which means that expenditure beyond this amount is not funded. Therefore, if the ceiling of a particular category is €100,000 and a club spends €250,000, it is effectively the first €100,000 of expenditure that is eligible for funding.

Categories 1,2,3,4, 7 and 8 are considered as ‘statutory’ and therefore, these categories are dealt with first, meaning the full amount due under the scheme is paid. For example, if a club spends over €175,000 on land purchase (see Category 1), the club will receive the full €20,000 committed under the scheme.

The amount of funding available for category 6 depends largely on the number of applications received and the amount left over after categories 1,2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 have been satisfied. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be sufficient funding to satisfy the max grants available as outlined below. An estimate to use is that around 10% to 15% of the ceiling expenditure will be available. This is not a commitment, but an estimate.

Application Forms

The 8 categories are now outlined in greater detail. Please take note of the expenditure ceiling in each category.

Category 1 Grants (Purchase)

a. The level of purchase grant shall be 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €20,000. The expenditure ceiling is €150,000. The first €25,000 of a purchase will not be considered for funding, which effectively places the expenditure ceiling on the amount eligible for grant aid at €125,000.

b. A purchase is considered as one purchase, no matter how many folio numbers are involved. A club that receives a purchase grant to the maximum of €20,000 will not be entitled to a purchase grant for another 5 years.

c. This section of the scheme is funded equally by Central Council and the Munster Council.

d. Grants shall not be paid except where:

It is established that the ground the subject of the application is vested in the Association and the property is held in trust under a current and adequate Deed of Trust

The Registered File Plan Folio of the property is provided, or the ‘dealing number’ in the case of property that is in the process of being registered with the Land Registry or equivalent documentation or certification in the case of unregistered land.

The amount of the purchase price of the ground is certified by way of Contract or Deed of Transfer or certification by the Solicitor or Estate Agent dealing with the sale

Permission for purchase has been granted by Co Board, Munster Council and National Finance and Management Committee.

It is established that land being purchased is for the purpose of pitch development, clubhouse development, or hurling wall development. In other words, land being used for the playing and development of the games will be funded.

Category 2 Grants (Changing Room Complex)

a. The level of purchase grant shall be 20% of eligible expenditure to a maximum grant of €20,000. That results in an expenditure ceiling of €100,000.

b. This section of the scheme is funded equally by Central Council and the Munster Council.

c. Applications under this category are confined to the construction of new buildings. However extensions to existing building will be considered.

d. Applications in relation to the reconstruction or refurbishment of existing changing rooms, where the total overall expenditure is less than €40,000, shall be considered under Category 6 – Other Club Development Projects.

e. Clubs cannot apply under this category at the same site for a five year period after having received such a grant.

f. Grants shall not be paid except where:

It is established that the premises the subject of the application is vested in the Association and the property is held in trust under a current adequate Deed of Trust

The Registered File Plan Folio (See Appendix 1 for further explanation) of the property is provided, or the ‘dealing number’ in the case of property that is in the process of being registered with the Land Registry or equivalent documentation or certification in the case of unregistered land.

The total claimed expenditure is fully vouched as required at 11(e) below

The dressing rooms are completed and are available for use at time of application.

This grant is intended for the development of facilities directly associated with the playing of the games i.e. dressing rooms, shower facilities and referee changing rooms.

Category 3 Grants (Schools Grounds Purchase & Development)

a. The level of school grounds purchase and development grant shall be 15% of eligible costs to a maximum of €5,000.

b. This section of the scheme is funded solely by the Munster Council.

Category 4 Grants (Construction or Refurbishment of Handball Court)

a. The level of grant for New Courts shall be 15% of eligible costs to a maximum of €5,000

b. The level of grant for Refurbishment of existing Courts shall be 20% of costs to a maximum of €2,500

c. This section of the scheme is funded solely by the Munster Council.

Category 5 Grants (County & Major Grounds)

a. The budget for the County Development Grants is managed through the provisions of the “2015 to 2024 Budget Framework” as approved by the Munster Council. This section of the scheme is funded solely by the Munster Council.

Category 6 Grants (Other Club Development Projects)

a. The level of grant awarded under this category will be dictated by the number of applications received and the amount available in the fund after the Grant Categories 1 to 4 and 7 and 8 have been dealt with. The amounts and percentages, as stated below, are only maximum limits applied and not guaranteed levels of the grant to be awarded.

b. Please note that this section of the scheme is funded equally by Central Council and the Munster Council.

c. Eligible expenditure under this category shall be confined to the following categories

Category 6a: Floodlighting of playing pitches, astroturf playing facilities, hurling walls and training areas. Floodlights must be of a minimum 250 lux and a minimum expenditure of €10,000 is required in order to qualify. Certification from the electrical contractor is also required in order to show that lighting meets all require safety and other standards.

Category 6b: Development of a new pitch, including the development of astroturf playing facilities and training areas. Sanding as part of general maintenance is excluded. A minimum expenditure of €10,000 is required in order for pitch works to be considered as development. Expenditure in this category cannot be rolled up over a number of years.

Category 6c: Hurling Walls, including the astro turf area associated with the wall that is not part of a greater training area.

Category 6d: Development of ancillary facilities e.g. goalposts, dugouts, fencing, nets, scoreboard, gymnasiums etc. In order for a club to qualify for a gymnasium grant, proof of competence to operate a gym in a safe manner must be provided.

Category 6e: Development of works which are not playing pitch related e.g. car-parks, stand, medical rooms, grass cutting equipment etc. It also includes upgrade work to dressing rooms that is not included under category 2. Note: Walkways, saunas etc. are excluded.

d. Subject to the level of funding available in any year (see 12 below) the level of grant available in each of the above categories shall be as follows;

Category 6a: 20% to a max grant of €20,000 – expenditure ceiling of €100,000

Category 6b: 20% to a max grant of €20,000 – expenditure ceiling of €100,000

Category 6c: 20% to a max grant of €10,000 – expenditure ceiling of €75,000

Category 6d: 20% to a max grant of €10,000 – expenditure ceiling of €50,000

Category 6e: 20% to a max grant of €10,000 – expenditure ceiling of €50,000

e. To qualify for grant aid under any category 6 category, a minimum expenditure of €5,000 is required. Smaller units will be permitted to satisfy this requirement by combining expenditure over a maximum of two years. Grant aid is project specific so new projects in the category will be considered. For example, if a club receives a grant for developing a new pitch and decides to develop a second pitch two or three years later, they will be entitled to a grant as it is a new project.

Category 7 Grants (Sanding Grant Scheme)

a. The level of sanding scheme grants shall be 50% of sanding cost to a maximum of €2,000 p.a. for a maximum of three years

b. Applications under this category shall be processed via the Coaching & Games Development Sub-Committee using the approved criteria for the scheme, this will include detailed invoices outlining sand transport and purchase costs.

c. This category of Sanding Grant is only available to a limited number of Clubs per County i.e. 2, over a 3 year cycle.

d. Grants will only be approved to clubs who make their pitches generally available for schools and colleges fixtures.

Category 8 Grants (Property Ownership Regularisation Grant)

a) This grant is made available to clubs who undertake to regularise the legal ownership of their property in accordance with GAA Rules on assets and Trustees.

b) This grant assists clubs with the legal fees associated with the regularisation of the title ownership of their property, along with the vesting of such property in the GAA.

c) The maximum grant available for this is €700 per club.

d) This section of the scheme is funded equally by Central Council and the Munster Council.

Application Forms

Category 1 Application Form 2019

Category 2 Application Form 2019

Category 3 Application Form 2019

Category 4 Application Form 2019

Category 6 Application Form 2019

Category 8 Application Form 2019

Guidelines and application forms for grant aid can be found below.

Munster GAA Grant Guidelines 2019