THE level of central funding granted to local sports clubs and community organisations has been branded “disgusting” and “a continuation of the neglect of Fermanagh.”

Over the past three years Sports NI has allocated a total of 3.25 percent of funding to the Fermanagh and Omagh area. The lowest allocation was this year, with 1.3 percent in 2024/25, and the highest was in 2021/22, with 6.06 percent.

Over the same three year period, the National Lottery funding to the local area amounted to a total of 0.97 percent, with the highest allocation coming this year at 1.43 percent, and the lowest in 2021/22, when it was just 0.36 percent.

At a recent Council meeting at Enniskillen Townhall, councillors called for an urgent meeting with Sports NI on the issue, with Cllr Barry McElduff calling for the body to open a new capital grants scheme local clubs could apply for.

The figures have been received with anger among local representatives, with Cllr Sheamus Greene also pointing out the complete dearth of capital grants being awarded locally from Stormont or other government bodies.

“I think it’s just a continuation of the neglect rural areas face,” he said. “Fermanagh and Omagh is the biggest rural council, geographically, in the North. That leads to the fact we just get overlooked.”

Cllr Greene said the situation with Sports NI was similar to the low level of investment from other similar bodies, such as Invest NI.

He also pointed to the funding plan by NI Water, PC21, to upgrade sewerage and water systems also saw the area allocated less than one percent of a multi-billion pound budget.

“I always say, Fermanagh isn’t an after thought. We’re probably, at best, an after thought of an after thought. We never even come into the equation,” Cllr Greene continued.

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