More than 500 groups nationwide will share in excess of €300,000 under phase three of the "Go for Life" national grant scheme for sport and physical activity for older people.
Details of the allocations under the scheme were announced today by Mr John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.
The scheme aims to help local clubs and organisations to increase opportunities for their older members to participate in recreational sport and a range of physical activities.
Response from groups to the third grant scheme was described as "tremendous", with over 800 applications received from all over the country. The 525 successful applicants include active retirement associations, senior citizens clubs, ICA guilds, sports clubs, day centres and community centres.
The grant scheme is administered by the Steering Committee of Go for Life — the National Programme for Sport and Physical Activity for Older People.
"We found that this year's applications strongly demonstrate the synergy between the grant scheme and the other elements of the Go for Life programme," Mr Robert Grier, Chair of the Steering Committee said.