The Federation of Irish Sport has called on the government to ensure the survival of sport and physical activity in Ireland by honouring the commitments made in the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 in respect of the current funding levels for sport.
The call was made in the Federation’s pre-budget submission, which highlights the need for such commitments to be met following the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on Irish sports’ finances.
Commitment 45 in the National Sports policy states a commitment to “Increase funding to participation programmes for every year of the policy, with the intention to double our annual investment.
Whether that will be possible in the reduced state of public finances will be determined over the course of the next three weeks ahead of Budget day on October 13th.
While the business and employment support made available by the government, coupled with the sport-specific rescue package of €70m announced in June, were recognised as assisting in keeping organisations afloat, the Federation states that further investment is now needed to ensure that organisations not only survive but are able to adapt, rebuild and grow in 2021.
Sport is an important business sector in Ireland contributing approximately 1.4% of Gross Value Added, generating €2.7 billion in household spending per annum and employing 39,500 people.
Participation in sport also plays a key role in maintaining physical and mental well-being, which is important not only in the battle against Covid-19 but also in reducing health spend on chronic illnesses and death caused by inactivity.
62 per cent of the Irish population is overweight or obese according to figures seen by the Federation, costing our health service an estimated €1.5 billion each year. It is estimated that there are 4,000 preventable deaths in Ireland every year due to physical inactivity.
In addition to a call to increase current funding to sport, the pre-budget submission also seeks €1.35 million, or 4.5%, of the proceeds of the Sweetened Sugar Drinks Tax be redirected to fund a specific campaign to tackle the obesity problem in Ireland.
The Federation is also requesting that the Government invests €2.34 million, or 4.5%, of the increase to the Betting Tax, to develop and implement communication and educational programmes on the importance of sport and the protection of those at risk from gambling in our sporting community.
Look back on our Sport for Business Special on the submission from earlier this morning…
The Federation of Irish Sport’s full pre-budget submission can be read here
