Claiming a Grant
Things to Know Before Claiming a Grant
[Please note the Group Broadband Scheme is now closed]
A Grant Agreement between the Minister and the relevant service provider will set out the maximum amount of grant aid that the successful applicant is offered, as well as the conditions of the grant aid. Participants in the GBS should familiarise themselves with the terms & conditions and the financial procedures of the scheme (see below). It should be noted that the payment of the grant will not be based on invoices received, but rather on the basis of payments made by the grant claimant.
- The Terms & Conditions of the Scheme
form part of the Grant Agreement. This document sets out the conditions that apply to all successful applicants under the 2nd Call of the County & Group Broadband Scheme.
- The Reporting & Financial Control Procedures document forms part of the Grant Agreement. This document sets out the procedures for claiming the grant, the required financial procedures and record-keeping for all projects, and the mandatory progress reporting by all successful applicants under the 2nd Call of the County & Group Broadband Scheme.
- The Reporting & Financial Control Procedures document includes the guidelines for deciding which expenditure by the applicant is eligible.
3 Options for Claiming a Grant
In order to provide the grant recipient with maximum flexibility in relation to claiming part of, or the entire, grant amount, there are three separate grant claim options. The grant recipient can select the option that best suits their circumstances. The grant recipient must choose only one claim option in relation to each GBS project.
(a) Grant Claim Option A - A Single Claim for 100% of the Grant
The grantee may submit a grant claim for the entire grant amount, where the grantee has completed the following three milestones: (i) all the equipment has been installed, (ii) the broadband service has been launched and is available to the community as set out in the proposal, and (iii) the minimum subscriber target for the project has been attained.
In the case of Grant Claim Option A, the grantee should use Grant Claim Form Option A (click GCF Option A 
).
All parts of the Grant Claim Form (Parts A, B, C, and D) should be completed. Example of completed Parts A & B are included in the Grant Claim Form Option A.
(b) Grant Claim Option B - Two Separate Claims for 90% and 10% of the Grant
The grantee may submit a grant claim for 90% of the grant amount, and then for 10% of the grant amount at a later date. The grantee may claim 90% of the grant amount, where the grantee has completed the following two milestones: (i) all the equipment has been installed, (ii) the broadband service has been launched and is available to the community as set out in the proposal.
At a later date, the grantee may claim the remaining 10% of the grant amount, where the grantee has completed the final milestone: (iii) the minimum subscriber target for the project has been attained.
In the case of Grant Claim Option B, the grantee should submit Grant Claim Form Option B (click GCF Option B ).
A completed Part A, B, C and D must be submitted each time a grant claim is being made (i.e. for the 90% claim and for the 10% claim). Examples of completed Parts A & B (both 90% and 10%) are included in the Grant Claim Form Option B.
(c) Grant Claim Option C - Three Separate Claims for 70% & 20% & 10% of the Grant
The grantee may submit a grant claim for 70% of the grant amount, a second grant claim for 20% of the grant amount, and then finally for 10% of the grant amount.
The grantee may claim 70% of the grant amount, where the grantee has completed the first milestone: (i) all the equipment has been installed.
The grantee may claim a further 20% of the grant amount, where the grantee has completed the second milestone: (ii) the broadband service has been launched and is available to the community as set out in the proposal.
Finally, the grantee may claim the remaining 10% of the grant amount, where the grantee has completed the third milestone: (iii) the minimum subscriber target for the project has been attained.
In the case of Grant Claim Option C, the grantee should submit Grant Claim Form Option C (click GCF Option C ).
A completed Part A, B, C and D must be submitted each time a grant claim is being made (i.e. for the 70% claim, the 20% claim, and for the 10% claim).
Examples of completed Parts A & B (for the 70%, the 20% and the 10% claims) are included in the Grant Claim Form Option C.
Submitting a Grant Claim
The requirements for completing and submitting a grant claim are as follows:
Step 1. Select the most suitable or convenient Grant Claim Option for the project; i.e. either one single claim (Option A), two separate claims (Option B), or three separate claims (Option C).
Step 2. Check that all the expenditure, on which the grant claim is based, is eligible.
Step 3. All relevant parts of the Grant Claim Form (i.e. Parts A, B, C, & D) should be completed and signed by the required signatories, each time a claim is submitted. Each Part is described below.
In Part A, the details of the eligible expenditure must be provided, as well as the Grant Recipient's details and the project reference.
- In Part B, the claimant should provide details of the income generated, the subscriber numbers, and the non-cofinanced expenditure.
- In Part C, the claimant should confirm the milestone(s) that is the basis of the claim, and the nine financial controls. Additional information on controls is also required.
- In Part D, the claimant certifies that the grant claim is in order.
Step 4. A 'Project Progress Report', in accordance with Appendix 1 of the Reporting & Financial Control Procedures , must be completed by the grant claimant each time a claim is submitted.
Step 5. The Grant Claim Form, along with the Project Progress Report, should be sent to Communications Development Division, 29 – 31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.