SPORTS GRANTS:Almost 1,000 facilities throughout the country will benefit from the €85 million in funding under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme. Details of the funding, which is being allocated to 935 clubs and centres and to regional, municipal and national facilities, were announced yesterday by the Department of Sport.

While the majority of the funding is to assist those in local clubs and bodies, a number of strategically vital projects at a regional and national level will also benefit.

Examples include €3 million to the Munster IRFU towards the redevelopment of Thomond Park, the redevelopment of the RDS as a home for Leinster IRFU and the redevelopment of Semple Stadium.

Full details can be found at www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/grants-funding.