Funding of €282,360 to develop and promote participation initiatives in sport and physical activity in Laois has been granted.
This funding is to promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people with a disability and developing programmes to address people who had stopped engaging in physical activity.
The grant to Laois Sports Partnership of €150,000 is the largest grant for any county in Ireland announced by the Government today.
This particular grant is to develop and promote new approaches to sport participation, examining the success and failures and showing how the project in Laois can be used as a template for other counties.
Rathdowney/Errill Activity Hub is set to receive €63,680 and Stradbally/Vicarstown/Timahoe Activity and Wellness Hub is to get €33,680.
In addition, grants have been awarded to Laois Sports Partnership for the following: Youth Leadership (€10,000), Volunteer Training and Support Programmes (€15,000) and Sports Inclusion Disability Programme Capital Supports (€10,000).
This brings the total funding for Laois Sports Partnership under the Dormant Accounts Funding of €185,000.
Welcoming the news, Minister for State Sean Fleming said the sports partnerships in Laois are an example to the rest of the country.
He said: “This funding will make a real difference to individuals and communities right across the county as Laois Sports Partnership develop and promote participation initiatives.
“Our local sports partnership has an excellent record in promoting sports and physical activities and is an example to many Sports Partnerships throughout the country.”
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