The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing Government funding for sports facilities. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications for funding under the programme be of a capital nature, which, for the purpose of the programme, is defined as:
expenditure on the improvement or construction of an asset and includes any costs directly incurred in this process; and
purchase of permanently based sports equipment, i.e. it is securely housed, and will remain in use for 5 years or more.
Also, only applications directly related to the provision of sport and recreational sport facilities are considered for funding under the programme. As marching bands do not fall into either of the above categories, applications from them are not eligible for funding under the sports capital programme.