Derry City applying for Grant Aid

[MariborKev]

But it's hard to reconcile that with the fact that Derry City's chairman (not the chairman of some regeneration committee, but the football club chairman) are asking the Irish government for money also. Presumably this money is also for the regeneration of the Brandywell area also? In which case I'm not sure why the Irish government should be funding such a regeneration effort for a city that is at the moment in another country.

I am aware that there is a precedent for this with other dual-funded projects, however. It's been mentioned on this thread that there is cross-border money available, and Derry are looking for it.

Greenforever's point is that any money given by the government should be given through the FAI, in the form of a grant for the club, not for a regeneration project.

The current chairman of the club is part of the Brandywell regeneration group, Brandywell Properties Trust. The group must include members of the current football club board, as they are the major tenants. Pat McDaid was elected to the board in December 2007 and subsequently joined the board of BPT.

Osarun, plenty of clubs have got money out of the capital funding, not through the FAI.

[Demoshield]

Why? The club contributes to the exchequer of the UK and to the sporting culture of the Republic of Ireland. Why shouldn't they get aid from both governments?

Every other club contributes to the exchequer of the Republic of Ireland and to the sporting culture of the U.K.when they play in the Brandywell.Why shouldn't they get aid from both governments?????

[Greenforever]

You are missing the point.

The argument by people who are in favour of getting these grants is that the money is not just for the football club, but is for regeneration of the whole deprived area. And as a club located in Northern Island, who pays VAT on all their tickets etc, the club and area are entitled to money from the Northern Irish government. I fully agree.

But it's hard to reconcile that with the fact that Derry City's chairman (not the chairman of some regeneration committee, but the football club chairman) are asking the Irish government for money also. Presumably this money is also for the regeneration of the Brandywell area also? In which case I'm not sure why the Irish government should be funding such a regeneration effort for a city that is at the moment in another country.

I am aware that there is a precedent for this with other dual-funded projects, however. It's been mentioned on this thread that there is cross-border money available, and Derry are looking for it.

Greenforever's point is that any money given by the government should be given through the FAI, in the form of a grant for the club, not for a regeneration project.

Could'nt have put it better myself!

[kingdomkerry]

Who cares how an LOI club gets its funding as long as they get it and continue to improve facilities and standards

[Greenforever]

Who cares how an LOI club gets its funding as long as they get it and continue to improve facilities and standards

Would you be happy to see the FAI or the Irish gov give funding to Linfield?

[micls]

Would you be happy to see the FAI or the Irish gov give funding to Linfield?

Do Linfield pay taxes to the Irish government?

The IFA arent giving Derry money. The government which they pay their taxes to is.

If Linfield were paying taxes to us then I'd be grand with them getting grants

[Buller]

Would you be happy to see the FAI or the Irish gov give funding to Linfield?

Linfield dont play in the FAI league last time I checked...

[Greenforever]

Linfield dont play in the FAI league last time I checked...

Exactly the point made by Ealing Green at the very start of the thread, that as Derry City don't play in the IL why should they gat a grant from the IL.

My points are very clear:

A club is only entilted to state funding from the state in which they are located.

A club is only entitles to football funding (FAI, IFA) from the association to which they are affiliated to.

This is why Derry are in the unique position of being entitled to grant aid from the NI gov and the FAI.

[Greenforever]

Do Linfield pay taxes to the Irish government?

The IFA arent giving Derry money. The government which they pay their taxes to is.

If Linfield were paying taxes to us then I'd be grand with them getting grants

So you agree with my earlier posts.

[Tir Oilean]

£5million from each never gonna happen guys. No club has ever gotten that kind of funding in this country have they?

[Cosmo]

Every other club contributes to the exchequer of the Republic of Ireland and to the sporting culture of the U.K.when they play in the Brandywell.Why shouldn't they get aid from both governments?????

Exactly, this gives derry a very unfair advantage and the irish government should not be funding them, as theyre not under their juristiction. Obviously no problem with them getting funding from the UK

Mind boggling! Like even GAA Clubs from the 6 counties arent eligible to apply for funding under the irish governements sports capital programme as theyre not under the irish governments juristiction.

Good luck with the stadium, but an absolute disgrace seeing Irish taxpayers money going towards a stadium in the UK, which will no doubt be at the expense of irish clubs looking for funding who pay their taxes to the irish government

[Gather round]

Morning all, good thread.

In principle I've no problem with DC applying for and getting grants from Stormont, for the reasons described- they pay NI taxes like Stute or Crusaders. Nor even, potentially, that they get more than the others. It's a bigger ground than Drumahoe, the area costs more to redevelop, Belfast already has bigger venues with (hopefully) plans for another.

Similarly, DC are members of the FAI, so they can equally apply to it. But as others have said, the FAI is largely funded by the Dublin govt., so in practice they ARE applying to both governments, even if one payment would be indirect. Isn't there a possibility the club will be fobbed off by both referring to the other?

I can see one possible way out of the log jam- what does the panel think of Stormont investing in an 8-10,000 all seater municipal stadium in Derry, and then NI using it for some games to boost community relations?

PS can't speak for others on here, or Belfast people generally, but I've always used 'Bogside' simply as a shorthand for 'left bank beyond the walls'. With similarly 'Waterside' meaning the whole urban right bank. No slight intended either to them, nor other areas of the city.

[srfc1928]

The Irish government are currently running a regeneration programme of its own called RAPID (revitiliasing areas by planning,Investment and devolpement) Rapid targets 46 of the most disadvantaged areas of the country. The Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to the 46 designated areas by focusing State resources available under the National Development Plan. The Programme also requires the Government Departments and State Agencies to bring about better co-ordination and closer integration in the delivery of services.
An Area Implementation Team (AIT) was established in each of the 46 areas to develop a plan for their area. The AIT brings local State Agency personnel (Health Board, Local Authority, VEC, Dept of Social & Family Affairs, FÁS, etc) the local Partnership Company, residents of the local community and, where they exist, Local Drugs Task Forces, together to prepare a plan identifying the needs of each area.
Areas were selected on a number of key issues,
High Levels unemployment
Early School leaving
Lack of affordable accessible childcare facilities
High-level welfare dependency
Quality of housing stock
Increasing levels of anti-social behaviour
Absence of adequate youth facilities
Lack of sport & recreation facilities

The Sligo Showgrounds is situated in the middle of one of these disadvantaged areas, and on the basis of some of DCFC's criteria for funding should the Showgrounds not receive similar fundingconsidering the government are priortising these areas

[red bellied]

The Irish government are currently running a regeneration programme of its own called RAPID (revitiliasing areas by planning,Investment and devolpement) Rapid targets 46 of the most disadvantaged areas of the country. The Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to the 46 designated areas by focusing State resources available under the National Development Plan. The Programme also requires the Government Departments and State Agencies to bring about better co-ordination and closer integration in the delivery of services.
An Area Implementation Team (AIT) was established in each of the 46 areas to develop a plan for their area. The AIT brings local State Agency personnel (Health Board, Local Authority, VEC, Dept of Social & Family Affairs, FÁS, etc) the local Partnership Company, residents of the local community and, where they exist, Local Drugs Task Forces, together to prepare a plan identifying the needs of each area.
Areas were selected on a number of key issues,
High Levels unemployment
Early School leaving
Lack of affordable accessible childcare facilities
High-level welfare dependency
Quality of housing stock
Increasing levels of anti-social behaviour
Absence of adequate youth facilities
Lack of sport & recreation facilities

The Sligo Showgrounds is situated in the middle of one of these disadvantaged areas, and on the basis of some of DCFC's criteria for funding should the Showgrounds not receive similar fundingconsidering the government are priortising these areas

http://www.sligorovers.com/content/view/203/112/
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
The Chairman of Sligo Rovers Michael Toolan has welcomed the recent announcement that the club is to receive €120,000 in funding under the RAPID programme.
This programme is administered by the Department of Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, and Mr Toolan thanked Minister O Cuiv for allocating the funding and commended Deputy Jimmy Devins, Senator Paschal Mooney and Senator Eamon Scanlon for their work in presenting and pursuing the club’s case.

‘This funding is a great boost, as it allows us to complete the development of two all weather mini-pitches at the rear of the ground. This will be a valuable facility, not just for the club, but the wider community, and represents another significant achievement in terms of our development programme.’

Mr Toolan paid tribute to Deputy Devins and Senator Mooney and Scanlon for their assistance to the club over the years. ‘They have been very supportive of Sligo Rovers through every phase of the Showgrounds development, from the construction of the new stand to the provision of the new all weather facility. With their continued input we are transforming the Showgrounds into one of the finest grounds in the Eircom League.’

I dont know if this money ever materialised or was used for something else but there definetely isnt two mini training pitches behind the railway end.

[Cosmo]

But as others have said, the FAI is largely funded by the Dublin govt., so in practice they ARE applying to both governments, even if one payment would be indirect.

Whatever payment they get from FAI will obviously be given by the government indirectly .

This is a very serious issue imo. Theres no way a club from the UK should receive funding towards sports stadium from the Irish governement (whether it be directly or indirectly) over clubs who pay their taxes to the Irish government .

[srfc1928]

Hi Red,
I know Rovers were succesful in their application for funding under the scheme, i dont know what has happened since. But 120,000 is a far cry from € 5 million

[Aaron]

Cosmo, where were you when Linfield and Institute received grants from the Irish government?

[Cosmo]

Cosmo, where were you when Linfield and Institute received grants from the Irish government?

I was never aware linfield or institute got grants off the irish government towards their stadiums? Any link to that?

If they did, it shouldnt have happened. Fact is theres a limited pool of money going towards sports stadiums each year in this country (the 26 county country!) and none of that should be going towards sports stadiums in a different country who dont pay any taxes here

[passerrby]

I think if DEFC are relying on this plan for their future they are in big trouble and better have a backup plan ready I dont know to much about there chances of getting five mill from the northern authories (poor at best) but they have no chance of getting that money from the irish goverment.
but best of luck anyway

[Bucky-O'Hare]

I think some of you people really should dry your eyes and question your own clubs for not being as proactive as Derry in applying for funds. There's every chance that we won't get a cent from either side but if we do then get over it!