Active Cities and Sports Inclusion Disability Projects
Every year millions of euro from Dormant Accounts Funding is invested in projects focused on overcoming the barriers and challenges to participation in sport for those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or people with a disability.
Under the Tranche 1 Funding Allocation 2025, more than €4m will be invested in community sports and physical activity initiatives led by Sport Ireland’s network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs). The second round of €5m approx. will be announced later in the year for National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs).
In 2025 key areas of investment includes:
- Community Sports and Physical Activity Hubs
- Sports Inclusion Disability Projects
- Active Cities
- Volunteer Supports
- Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiatives
- Disability Training Framework
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion fund
- and the Her Moves Initiative.
Here we will examine the key areas where the funding will be allocated, and spotlight examples of how the money will be spent.
In the second of our series looking at where Dormant Accounts Funding will be allocated, and spotlighting examples of how the money will be spent we look at The Active Cities initiative and Sports Inclusion Disability Projects.
Active Cities
Funding of €750,000 is allocated to the Active Cities initiative, which aims to promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles in the country’s five largest cities. It also funds increased access to free sport and leisure equipment. Facilitated through eight LSPs, an Active City aims to make physical activity a normal part of daily life by providing sports programs for all ages and abilities.
One example of this is a partnership between Fingal’s Active Cities Dublin and Swim Ireland that has residents from ‘Coolmine Therapeutic Community’, a drug & alcohol treatment centre, take part in a 12-week open-water swimming programme.
Gary, a client of the centre, said: “Before this, Christmas 2015 was the last time I was in the water, 10 years ago. Everything in my life was negative until I started doing the swimming. Because my frame of mind has changed, everything in my life has changed. My whole outlook on life, my relationship with people – everything has changed.”
Paul Hatton, Continuing Care Manager at the Coolmine centre, said: “It’s absolutely been a brilliant success and we’re really grateful for the support and the funding and everything that's been put into it.”
https://x.com/CoolmineTC/status/1950850625689797059
Spotlight: Limerick LSP
King’s Island in Limerick City centre is one of the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas in Ireland.
The community experiences high levels of unemployment, low educational attainment, and features a significant proportion of lone-parent households. The area also faces challenges related to health inequalities and social exclusion.
Residents in King’s Island have proven difficult to engage in regular physical activity, often due to limited access to safe and welcoming community amenities.
In collaboration with other agencies, and in consultation with the community, a capital investment has been outlined that will deliver a half basketball court, one-wall handball facility, table tennis and Teqball tables and soccer goals.
Award: €121,000
Sports Inclusion Disability Projects
The Sports Inclusion Disability Projects (SIDP) fund will receive €500,000 to reduce barriers to sports participation for individuals with disabilities through developing infrastructure.
The fund does this through developing minor infrastructure, such as handrails, and by providing equipment and enabling infrastructure, including handcycles. This is targeted at increasing participation in sport and physical activity for people with disabilities.
Spotlight: Dún Laoghaire Rathdown LSP
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will deliver two projects using SIDP funding.
The first is an assisted zip line for children with a disability. The assisted zip line helps children aged 5-14 play alongside their family and friends.
The second project will be the purchase of a side-by-side tandem bike for people with a disability or poor mobility that allows them to sit next to a companion. This style of a tandem bike creates a more inclusive experience and allows the main driver to take full control, making it more accessible to a larger range of abilities.
Award: €25,000