OUTDOOR SWIMMING INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING 2024

Closed3 May, 2024, 12:00pm - 17 May, 2024, 5:00pm

OUTDOOR SWIMMING INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING 2024

The aim of the National Physical Activity Plan is to increase physical activity levels across the whole population. It aims to create a society which facilitates people whether at home at work or at play to lead an active way of life. Increasing physical activity will help improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Ireland. With specific responsibilities presented under this national plan, Sport Ireland and its network of Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies for Sport have key objectives to deliver to underpin the success of this plan.

Sport Ireland, working with the Department of Health (DoH) under the Healthy Ireland initiative, and Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, Media, and Gaeltacht (DTACSMG) specifically in relation to Outdoor/Open Water swimming infrastructure that could strengthen and underpin the new National Swimming Strategy, is presenting a funding stream for application in 2024.

The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Hildegarde Naughton TD announced €500,000 in funding for outdoor swimming infrastructure projects across Ireland. In order to further promote outdoor swimming, the funding will be made available to Local Sports Partnerships, working in tandem with local authorities, to improve access and facilities at outdoor swimming locations in 2024.

There has been a significant growth in the popularity of outdoor swimming in recent years, yielding a breadth of physical and social wellbeing benefits. To further promote outdoor swimming, the funding will be made available to Local Sports Partnerships, working in tandem with local authorities, to improve access and facilities at outdoor swimming locations in 2024.

Mayo Sports Partnership is seeking applications for Healthy Ireland Outdoor Swimming Infrastructure Funding to support the Actions from the National Sports Policy and the National Physical Activity Plan and Sport Ireland Participation Plan to increase the opportunities to partake in outdoor swimming across Ireland.
All projects are offered through a competitive bid process and will be evaluated against the criteria set in the application forms and guidelines document.

Criteria

	Strengthening Open Water Swimming Infrastructure	Equipment
Who can apply	(a) Community Groups (b) Voluntary Groups	a) Community Groups (b) Voluntary Groups
What can be applied for	Provide funding support to innovative and creative solutions to improve changing facilities at outdoor swimming locations. Provide funding support to improve general accessibility to safe swim zones. Provide funding support to improve storage facilities for beach wheelchairs and/or inclusive equipment to support accessibility to safe swim zones for all. Provide funding support up to a maximum of €30,000 to innovative and creative solutions to improve access to safe swim zones for people with disabilities. Provide funding support for access improvements specifically relating to steps and handrails to aid support entering and leaving the water for the purpose of swimming.	Provide funding support to equipment such as buoyancy aids, specialist wheelchairs, equipment to support people with disabilities to enter the water to swim. Provide funding support to beach mats that support wheelchair users onto the beach to access water. Provide funding support to innovative and creative solutions for small scale swim equipment at outdoor swimming locations to create more opportunities for people to take part in outdoor swimming.
Applications MUST	Be in Safe Outdoor Swimming Zones Be Lifeguarded in Summer Season Demonstrate Partner / Stakeholder Engagement Please note that specified areas listed under Failte Ireland’s Facilities for Outdoor Water-based activities are not eligible for support under this scheme.	Be in Safe Outdoor Swimming Zones Be Lifeguarded in Summer Season Demonstrate Partner / Stakeholder Engagement Please note that specified areas listed under Failte Ireland’s Facilities for Outdoor Water-based activities are not eligible for support under this scheme.
Fund Limitations	Only €30,000 in total max available to each county Groups may only get partial funding and may have to demonstrate matching funding	Only €30,000 in total max available to each county Groups may only get partial funding and may have to demonstrate matching funding
Maximum that can be applied for (Note Only 1 application per group)	€30,000	€10,000
Closing Date	Friday 17th May 2024 at 12 Noon	Friday 17th May 2024 at 12 Noon

Please note that all applications are to be made online. Closing date for is Friday 17th May 2024 at 12 Noon, maximum allocation to any one project will be determined by a Mayo Sports Partnership Sub Committee, this is dependent on meeting the criteria and overall quality of the initiative. The Mayo Sports Partnership committee will decide on all successful applications and its recommendations are final. If groups require assistance on the scheme email mayosportspartnership@mayococo.ie or phone the Sports Partnership office at 094-9064360.

The closing date has passed and submissions are no longer being accepted.