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Major €80m Funding Boost for Sports to recover, grow and attract people nationwide

13 Dec 2021
Cameron Molloy Moules
National

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jack Chambers T.D, together with Sport Ireland, have announced almost €80m for the sport sector under two separate support programmes.

Some €73.6m in Covid funding is being allocated under five separate streams to help sports organisations to recover and grow post pandemic, support our grassroots network of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.

A further €5.3m is being provided to sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) for the provision of sports equipment including the roll out of defibrillators for clubs, kits for school children and state of the art equipment for our high-performance athletes.

Today’s announcement follows a commitment from both Ministers of a €65 million COVID-19 investment programme. Additional investment has been provided through the 2021 Sport Ireland budget providing total COVID support of €73.617 million to the sector. The timing of the schemes provides stability and certainty to the sports sector as it emerges from the pandemic and plans for 2022.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said: “As a nation so fond of sports, we are very supportive of our clubs, our competitors and of course everyone who enjoys physical activity. But the last two years have been two of the most challenging for all sports organisations and the announcement of this funding will come as a relief for the sports sector. It’s important that the sport sector is on a firm financial footing. The additional funding, coupled with the increase in the budget for sport in 2022, will ensure the long-term viability of our sports organisations, high performance sport and will make sure sport remains accessible to all. These emergency funds will reach all corners of the country, a myriad of activities and ensure clubs and grassroots groups continue their great work.”

 

Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs Jack Chambers TD, added: “I welcome today’s allocations announced by Sport Ireland, which recognise the immense contribution that sport and physical activity has made to Ireland’s response to the pandemic. All facets of society continue to adjust as the public health situation evolves and our National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnership and sports clubs are to be commended on how they have adapted. Government understands that this has been challenging for all and the funding allocated today will assist the sector as it continues to play an important role in supporting all members of society getting and staying active.”

Specific investment has also been provided for the disability sport sector in line with the SportForAll initiative with, amongst others, Special Olympics Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Paralympics Ireland receiving financial support. A number of the approved equipment grants are also specifically targeted at disability sport.

This investment recognises the disproportionate and unanticipated extent of COVID-19 restrictions on their activities and the difficulties associated with a resumption and return to normal levels of activity.   

Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “Sport Ireland has engaged extensively with the sector since the onset of the pandemic to understand the pressure points and where organisations need support. This is reflected in the allocations made today by Sport Ireland, which also factor in the wider economic and social impact of sport. It was a priority of the Board of Sport Ireland that the needs of the disability sector were specifically addressed, with ring-fenced funding being allocated in the allocations. The recent budget announcement by the Ministers of an increase in the overall sports funding for 2022 has further reinforced that sense of confidence that support is available. We look forward to working with our funded bodies and a positive 2022.”

The total amount of money available is designed to protect the existing physical and operational infrastructure of Irish sport. This is in recognition that any reconstruction of Irish sport would ultimately cost more over the long run.

Sport Ireland Chief Executive, John Treacy, said: “While organised sport has returned in a meaningful way in recent months, the impact of the restriction of the last two years is still being felt across the sector. Indoor sports in particular have been disproportionately affected, while a large number of outdoor sports have seen their commercial programmes hit. The funding announced by Sport Ireland will alleviate the pressure on these sports and help the wider club infrastructure to sustain their commendable efforts in providing for their membership. As throughout the pandemic, Sport Ireland remains available to our national sporting organisations to provide support and guidance where necessary.” 

The COVID funding announced today is in addition to the COVID-19 contingency fund which was directed towards exceptional costs generated by the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, which were postponed for 12 months until this year. This contingency fund ensured National Governing Bodies were supported to address costs incurred that were beyond the scope of Sport Ireland’s High Performance Programme funding and other programme resources. Full details are set out in Appendix I.

In relation to the separate equipment funding, Sport Ireland was requested to identify and prioritise proposals from NGBs and LSPs which would advance the Government’s National Sports Policy with a focus on the areas of participation, inclusion, female involvement in sport and delivery of the Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy 2021-2032.

Following completion of their assessment process, Sport Ireland recommended grants totalling €5.3m broken down as follows:

  • €3.4m to support NGBs further advance participation opportunities;
  • €1.4m to support NGBs advance the strategic objectives of the Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy; and
  • €0.5m to Local Sports Partnerships to advance participation and physical opportunities at a community level.

Full details of these equipment grants are shown in Appendix II.

Appendix I – COVID Supports

Scheme One – IRFU, FAI, GAA

This specific fund was created in recognition of the particular operational challenges facing the three largest field sports. These organisations’ ability to generate commercial income continued to be severely disrupted throughout 2021.

Scheme Two – NGB Resilience Fund

Broadly, the allocations cover the loss of income from events, ticket sales, sponsorship, affiliation & membership fees, courses, services and the additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols. It is acknowledged that indoor sports and Governing Bodies who are more reliant on commercial activity and have more diverse streams of income will require greater support.

Scheme Three – Club Resilience Fund

A large number of the challenges faced by Governing Bodies are replicated across their Club network with income from affiliation & membership fees, events, competition, coaching courses and ancillary services all reduced. The additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols has also had a significant impact on Club activities where the sharing of equipment, facilities and resources is common place.  In addition, there are a number of Governing Bodies whose network of Clubs consist of commercial organisations operating out of dedicated facilities with full time staff and strong annual turnovers. Such organisations are more reliant on membership, competition and coaching revenues as well as income from ancillary sporting and non-sporting commercial activity.

Sport Ireland will not fund Clubs, Affiliates, Provinces or Branches directly and funding will be accessed through programmes established by the Governing Body.

Scheme Four – Swimming Pool & Facilities Fund

This scheme provides specific funding to support the reopening and continued viability of Swimming Pools along with the strategic facilities of National Governing Bodies & Local Sports Partnerships.

A Funding Scheme for swimming pools will be designed and delivered by Ireland Active in consultation with Sport Ireland.

Scheme Five - Resumption of Sport & Physical Activity

A Restart Fund to support the return of sport and physical activity post pandemic has been made available.

The Scheme seeks to support a number of key focus areas

  • A Disability Sport Fund
  • Older Adults Support
  • Third Level Education Support
  • NGB Grassroots & Indoor Sport Support
  • LSP Small Grant Scheme
  • LSP Grassroots Sport Support

 

Notes to the Editor:

Total Overall NGB Allocations

Organisation

Scheme One 

 Scheme Two

 Scheme Three

 Scheme Five

 Total

           

Gaelic Athletic Association

20,000,000

-

-

-

20,000,000

Football Association of Ireland

19,000,000

-

-

-

19,000,000

Irish Rugby Football Union

18,000,000

-

-

-

18,000,000

           

Field Sports Total

57,000,000

-

-

 

57,000,000

           

Special Olympics Ireland

-

-

-

500,000

500,000

Irish Wheelchair Association Sport

     

142,000

142,000

CARA

     

80,000

80,000

Paralympics Ireland

     

65,000

65,000

Vision Sports Ireland

-

-

-

50,000

50,000

Disability Sport Total

-

-

-

837,000

837,000

           
           

Cricket Ireland

-

1,300,000

200,000

-

1,500,000

Basketball Ireland

-

360,000

550,000

100,000

1,010,000

Golf Ireland

-

-

700,000

200,000

900,000

Athletics Ireland

-

-

650,000

-

650,000

Irish Athletic Boxing Association

 

60,000

400,000

50,000

510,000

Gymnastics Ireland

 

-

500,000

-

500,000

The Camogie Association

-

500,000

-

-

500,000

Irish Martial Arts Commission

-

-

225,000

215,000

440,000

Swim Ireland

-

-

300,000

125,000

425,000

Horse Sport Ireland

-

-

300,000

200,000

500,000

Hockey Ireland

-

-

350,000

-

350,000

Irish Sailing

-

-

350,000

-

350,000

Badminton Ireland

-

130,000

-

200,000

330,000

Motor Sport Ireland

-

120,000

150,000

50,000

320,000

Triathlon Ireland

-

186,000

125,000

-

311,000

Volleyball Ireland

-

-

-

200,000

200,000

Irish Squash

-

-

60,000

125,000

185,000

Rowing Ireland

-

85,000

100,000

-

185,000

National Community Games

-

100,000

50,000

-

150,000

Irish Underwater Council / Diving Ireland

-

10,000

110,000

-

120,000

Canoeing Ireland

-

-

18,000

100,000

118,000

GAA Handball

-

-

-

100,000

100,000

Archery Ireland

-

32,000

50,000

7,000

89,000

Fencing Ireland

-

5,000

70,000

-

75,000

Irish Judo Association

 

15,000

20,000

35,000

70,000

Motorcycling Ireland

-

50,000

-

-

50,000

Olympic Handball

-

-

-

40,000

40,000

Bowling League of Ireland

 

-

40,000

-

40,000

Rugby League Ireland

 

-

15,000

20,000

35,000

Irish Taekwondo Union

-

15,000

10,000

-

25,000

ONAKAI

-

-

25,000

-

25,000

Racquetball Association of Ireland

 

5,000

20,000

-

25,000

Weightlifting Ireland

-

-

20,000

3,000

23,000

Tug of War

-

12,000

-

10,000

22,000

Irish Orienteering Association

-

-

-

20,000

20,000

Irish Surfing

-

-

-

20,000

20,000

American Football Ireland

-

-

8,000

10,000

18,000

Bol Chumann na hÉireann

-

-

15,000

-

15,000

Table Tennis Ireland

-

-

-

10,000

10,000

Angling Council Of Ireland

-

-

-

10,000

10,000

Federation of Irish Sport

-

-

14,000

-

14,000

Totals

57,000,000

2,985,000

5,445,000

1,850,000

10,280,000

 

LSP Small Grant Scheme

Carlow Sports Partnership

€                                 28,800

Cavan Sports Partnership

€                                 76,000

Clare Sports Partnership

€                                 62,200

Cork Sports Partnership

€                               115,000

Donegal Sports Partnership

€                                 40,600

Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership

€                                 69,000

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership

€                                 44,600

Fingal Sports Partnership

€                                 40,600

Galway Sports Partnership

€                                 49,000

Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership

€                                 76,000

Kildare Sports Partnership

€                                 53,000

Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership

€                                 43,000

Laois Sports Partnership

€                                 29,355

Leitrim Sports Partnership

€                                 62,200

Limerick Sports Partnership

€                               142,000

Longford Sports Partnership

€                                 55,200

Louth Sports Partnership

€                                 44,600

Mayo Sports Partnership

€                                 93,400

Meath Local Sports Partnership

€                                 35,800

Monaghan Sports Partnership

€                                 14,850

Offaly Sports Partnership

€                                 33,800

Roscommon Sports Partnership

€                                 20,300

Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership

€                                 76,000

South Dublin County Sports Partnership

€                                 28,800

Sports Active Wexford

€                                 76,000

Tipperary Sports Partnership

€                                 66,800

Waterford Sports Partnership

€                                 32,455

Westmeath Sports Partnership

€                                 54,840

Wicklow Sports Partnership

€                                 35,800

Total

€                              1,600,000

 

LSP Grassroots Sport Support

Organisation

Amount

Carlow Sports Partnership

€                         50,950

 Clare Sports Partnership

 €                         38,644

 Cavan Sports Partnership

 €                            9,490

 Cork Sports Partnership

 €                         77,031

 Donegal Sports Partnership

 €                         27,600

 Galway Sports Partnership

 €                         49,000

 Kildare Sports Partnership

 €                         29,750

 Laois Sports Partnership

 €                         40,617

 Leitrim Sports Partnership

 €                         20,400

 Limerick Sports Partnership

 €                         62,665

 Longford Sports Partnership

 €                         20,800

 Mayo Sports Partnership

 €                         29,953

 Roscommon Sports Partnership

 €                            5,650

 Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership

 €                         28,991

 Tipperary Sports Partnership

 €                            4,500

 Wicklow Sports Partnership

 €                            3,960

Total

 €              500,000

 

Full Investment Breakdown

           
             

Organisation

Scheme One 

 Scheme Two

 Scheme Three

 Scheme Four

 Scheme Five

 Total

             

 Gaelic Athletic Association 

          20,000,000

                    -  

                           -  

 

                     -  

                       20,000,000

 Football Association of Ireland

          19,000,000

                    -  

                           -  

 

                     -  

                       19,000,000

 Irish Rugby Football Union

          18,000,000

                    -  

                           -  

 

                     -  

                       18,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field Sports Total 

         57,000,000

                    -  

                           -  

 

 

                       57,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Olympics Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

             500,000

                           500,000

 Irish Wheelchair Association Sport

 

 

 

 

             142,000

                           142,000

 CARA

 

 

 

 

               80,000

                             80,000

 Paralympics Ireland

 

 

 

 

               65,000

                             65,000

 Vision Sports Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

               50,000

                             50,000

 Disability Sport Total 

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

             837,000

                           837,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cricket Ireland

                     -  

          1,300,000

                   200,000

 

                     -  

                         1,500,000

 Basketball Ireland

                     -  

             360,000

                   550,000

 

             100,000

                         1,010,000

 Golf Ireland 

                     -  

                    -  

                   700,000

 

             200,000

                           900,000

 Athletics Ireland 

                     -  

                    -  

                   650,000

 

                     -  

                           650,000

 Irish Athletic Boxing Association

 

              60,000

                   400,000

 

               50,000

                           510,000

 Gymnastics Ireland

 

                    -  

                   500,000

 

                     -  

                           500,000

 The Camogie Association 

                     -  

             500,000

                           -  

 

                     -  

                           500,000

 Irish Martial Arts Commission

                     -  

                    -  

                   225,000

 

             215,000

                           440,000

 Swim Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                   300,000

 

             125,000

                           425,000

 Horse Sport Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                   300,000

 

             200,000

                           500,000

 Hockey Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                   350,000

 

                     -  

                           350,000

 Irish Sailing 

                     -  

                    -  

                   350,000

 

                     -  

                           350,000

 Badminton Ireland

                     -  

             130,000

                           -  

 

             200,000

                           330,000

 Motor Sport Ireland

                     -  

             120,000

                   150,000

 

               50,000

                           320,000

 Triathlon Ireland

                     -  

             186,000

                   125,000

 

                     -  

                           311,000

 Volleyball Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

             200,000

                           200,000

 Irish Squash

                     -  

                    -  

                     60,000

 

             125,000

                           185,000

 Rowing Ireland

                     -  

              85,000

                   100,000

 

                     -  

                           185,000

 National Community Games

                     -  

             100,000

                     50,000

 

                     -  

                           150,000

 Irish Underwater Council / Diving Ireland

                     -  

              10,000

                   110,000

 

                     -  

                           120,000

 Canoeing Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                     18,000

 

             100,000

                           118,000

 GAA Handball 

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

             100,000

                           100,000

 Archery Ireland

                     -  

              32,000

                     50,000

 

                7,000

                             89,000

 Fencing Ireland

                     -  

                5,000

                     70,000

 

                     -  

                             75,000

 Irish Judo Association

 

              15,000

                     20,000

 

               35,000

                             70,000

 Motorcycling Ireland

                     -  

              50,000

                           -  

 

                     -  

                             50,000

 Olympic Handball

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

               40,000

                             40,000

 Bowling League of Ireland

 

                    -  

                     40,000

 

                     -  

                             40,000

 Rugby League Ireland

 

                    -  

                     15,000

 

               20,000

                             35,000

 Irish Taekwondo Union

                     -  

              15,000

                     10,000

 

                     -  

                             25,000

 ONAKAI 

                     -  

                    -  

                     25,000

 

                     -  

                             25,000

 Racquetball Association of Ireland

 

                5,000

                     20,000

 

                     -  

                             25,000

 Weightlifting Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                     20,000

 

                3,000

                             23,000

 Tug of War

                     -  

              12,000

                           -  

 

               10,000

                             22,000

 Irish Orienteering Association

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

               20,000

                             20,000

 Irish Surfing 

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

               20,000

                             20,000

 American Football Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                       8,000

 

               10,000

                             18,000

 Bol Chumann na hÉireann

                     -  

                    -  

                     15,000

 

                     -  

                             15,000

 Table Tennis Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

               10,000

                             10,000

 Angling Council Of Ireland

                     -  

                    -  

                           -  

 

               10,000

                             10,000

 Federation of Irish Sport

                     -  

                    -  

                     14,000

 

                     -  

                             14,000

 Age & Opportunity 

 

 

 

 

             100,000

                           100,000

 Student Sport Ireland

 

 

 

 

             100,000

                           100,000

 Ireland Active

 

 

 

                 3,200,000

 

                         3,200,000

 Local Sports Partnership Network

 

 

 

 

           2,100,000

                         2,100,000

 Totals

          57,000,000

           2,985,000

                   5,445,000

                   3,200,000

           4,987,000

                          73,617,000

 

Appendix II – Sport Ireland Targeted Equipment Grants

National Governing Bodies of Sport Organisation

General Participation

High Performance

TOTAL

Football Association of Ireland

395,000

 

€395,000

Gymnastics Ireland

 

395,000

€395,000

Horse Sport Ireland

330,304

  64,696

€395,000

Irish Rugby Football Union

395,000

 

€395,000

Irish Sailing

102,000

293,000

€395,000

Swim Ireland

359,000

36,000

€395,000

Rowing Ireland

  60,000

325,000

€385,000

Gaelic Athletic Association

356,000

 

€356,000

Irish Athletic Boxing Association

259,000

 

€259,000

Canoeing Ireland

143,000

70,000

€213,000

Badminton Ireland

140,000

45,700

€185,700

Athletics Ireland

156,000

22,353

€178,353

Cricket Ireland

  47,000

110,000

€157,000

Basketball Ireland

100,000

 

€100,000

Olympic Handball

100,000

 

€100,000

Snooker & Billiards Ireland

98,400

 

  €98,400

Irish Martial Arts Commission

89,000

 

  €89,000

Hockey Ireland

 

 80,000

  €80,000

Angling Council of Ireland

60,000

 

€60,000

Volleyball Ireland

     55,000

 

€55,000

Tug of War Ireland

     50,000

 

€50,000

Irish Underwater Council/Diving Ireland

     35,000

 

€35,000

Table Tennis Ireland

     25,100

 

€25,100

Irish Surfing

     20,000

 

€20,000

Tennis Ireland

   

12,500

€12,500

Irish Wheelchair Association Sport

     12,000

 

€12,000

Total Funding Requests [NGBs]

3,386,804

1,454,249

€4,841,053

Local Sports Partnerships (LSP’s)

Carlow LSP

€ 42,800

Cavan LSP

€ 22,461

Clare LSP

€ 10,000

Donegal LSP

€ 30,000

Kerry LSP

€ 84,000

Kildare LSP

€ 45,000

Laois LSP

€ 38,803

Leitrim LSP

€ 35,000

Longford LSP

€ 25,000

Meath LSP

€ 56,774

Monaghan LSP

€   5,500

Offaly LSP

€ 20,000

Sligo LSP 1

€ 20,000

Tipperary LSP

€ 36,900

Waterford LSP

€    9,800

Total

€482,038