The Community Sport Facilities Fund is returning, and it’s a major opportunity for table tennis clubs across the country. The Department hasn’t made an official announcement yet, but details of the upcoming round have been released, and there’s plenty clubs can do now to get ready.
Please note: the information below is provisional. Official guidelines are expected the week of 12 October, and we’ll update this page as soon as they’re published.
New Application Portal: Spraoi
The round will run through a new online portal called Spraoi, launching on Monday 28 September. Existing OSCAR accounts are expected to be moved over to Spraoi, so please watch your club’s email inbox on Monday for details. Make sure whoever manages your club’s OSCAR account knows to look out for this.
Key Dates
- Spraoi portal launches: Monday 28 September 2026
- Official guidelines expected: week of 12 October 2026
- Applications open: Monday 19 October 2026
- Closing date: Friday 26 February 2027
Funding Categories
- Local projects: grants of up to €250,000
- Larger projects: grants from €250,000 to €550,000
- Large-scale and multisport projects: grants of up to €750,000
- Equipment-only grants: up to €70,000 (expected, to be confirmed in the official guidelines)
Who Can Apply?
Voluntary, not-for-profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies, and schools applying with a local sports club.
What Could This Mean for Your Club?
For table tennis clubs, this could mean competition-standard tables, nets, court surrounds, umpire tables, and scoreboards. Clubs with their own premises or a long-term lease might look at bigger improvements, such as better lighting, sports flooring, or improved accessibility, so more people can play.
What You’ll Likely Need
Based on previous rounds, clubs should expect to provide:
- Proof of ownership or a lease agreement (usually not needed for equipment-only applications)
- Valid quotations for your project or equipment
- Recent bank statements
- A formal licence agreement if applying jointly as a school and club
Our Advice: Start Now
Strong applications take time. Check your emails for your Spraoi account, get your committee together, agree on your priorities, and start collecting quotes and documents now. You don’t need to wait for the guidelines to start preparing.
If you have questions about your club’s application, the TTI team is happy to help. Get in touch with us.
