“Sport is the heartbeat of so many of our communities, and this Government is committed to growing sport at all levels,” said Minister of State for Sport, Charlie McConalogue, introducing the measures for Sport in Budget 2026 alongside Minister Patrick O’Donovan in Government Buildings last evening.
“From grassroots participation to elite and high-performance athletes, we are dedicated to improving Ireland’s standing as a sporting nation.”
““Additional funding for Sport Ireland will enable multi-year funding of National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships, as well as a new fund to improve regional sporting events.”
“We will also provide the FAI with support to kick-start their Academies programme and introduce support for the growth of hurling in urban areas and other non-traditional hurling parts of the country.”
“The countdown to Ireland hosting the 2027 Ryder Cup and Euro 2028 is firmly on, and we will continue to invest in these and other Major Sports Events in 2026, ensuring that these events leave a lasting legacy for communities, drive economic growth, and have a positive impact on sports participation. This will continue to be a priority.”
“In the lead-up to the Olympic Games in LA in 2028, the Government is committed to reach €30 million per annum in High Performance funding before the 2028 LA Olympics. With an increase of €1.5 million, bringing the total funding to €28.5 million, we are ahead of schedule on this goal.”
“We have also made provision for another round of funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund, as well as an increase in support for the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, recognising the rollout of projects already announced.”
“We will continue to develop our National Sports Campus, with work due to commence shortly on the new National Velodrome and Badminton Centre. This Government is committed to the success of Irish sport, from record investment in our sports facilities to supporting the ambitions of our high-performance athletes like never before, and fundamentally, to ensuring everyone, at every level, enjoys the right to participate in sport and physical activity.”
Key highlights of Budget 2026 for Sport
€10.8m in extra current funding for Sport Ireland, including:
* Increased core funding for national governing bodies of sport and local sports partnerships by €2m
* An additional €500k to support Sport Ireland’s work with sports legacy programmes and events.
Additional funding for Gaelic Games, including:
* Enhanced core funding for the GAA of €250k
* Just under €750k to grow hurling in non-traditional areas
* An additional €1.6m to support inter-county players
Extra funding for the IRFU, including:
*Enhanced core funding of €250k
* Funding of just under €500k to support the building of high-performance pathways for women’s rugby
€3m to the FAI to support League of Ireland football academies
High Performance funding increased by €1.5m ahead of LA 2028, to meet Programme for Government commitments
Investment of €500k in a grassroots golf participation programme as part of the legacy programme of major golf events like the Ryder Cup 2027
National Velodrome and Badminton Centre to commence construction
Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) annual allocation increased by €18.7m, to support the development of world-class sports facilities nationwide
A €58.7m allocation will support expenditure on thousands of existing projects under the Community Sport Facilities Fund with the intention of announcing the opening of a further round later in 2026
On Sport Ireland Funding: Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue
“The allocation for the sports programme in Budget 2026 is over €290 million, marking an increase of just under €60 million, or 26%.”
“We clearly exceeded the National Sports Policy commitment of double Government funding in sports by 2027 compared to 2018 levels.”
“€10.77 million in additional current funding for Sport Ireland, including €2 million for NGBs and LSPs.”
“There is a 5.5% increase in funding to high-performance sport, which will bring the total for high performance to €28.5 million.”
On Major Events Funding: Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue and Minister Patrick O’Donovan
“There is a significant increase in major sports event funding, over €22 million in the year ahead.”
“There’s €9 million projected for the Ryder Cup.”
“No public monies have been given to Adare Manor in respect of the Ryder Cup.”
“The government’s monies are around licensing and the infrastructure outside of the gates of Adare Manor.”
“Preparation for the EURO 2028 qualifiers, and potential recurrence of the NFL.”
On Football Funding – Minister Patrick O’Donovan
“€3 million is going to Soccer Academy Football Academy. That’s really, really significant.”
“This money is going to be expended for the development of Football Academy of Ireland with the support of Sport Ireland.”
“We expect it to lead to at least 40 jobs over the course of the year.”
“If you’re receiving public funding, you must engage with the relevant Oireachtas committee. If you don’t, you are on a collision course with me and on a trajectory to having your funding cut.”
Sport for Business Analysis
In a budget that was flagged in advance of being less of a giveaway than last years, sport has done well to emerge with significant gains.
There will be some continued unease at the fact that core funding was set at €2 million rather than the 10% or €3 million urged by the sector, but a comment about getting a 6.5% increase at a time of 2.2% inflation would suggest that there is a belief this was a good result.
The FAI lobbying campaign which manifested in strong political buy-in before last year’s election and in the programme for government has been rewarded with a multi-year commitment from Minister Jack Chambers in his Budget speech and an initial fund of €3 million which, while short of the requested €4.5 million, is still a substantial kick start to what can be done.
The opening of a new round of Community Sports funding is a positive for clubs and NGB’s around the country and the rising allocation towards the Large Scale Infrastructure Fund, together with strong hints that progress on the approved projects must be made in order to hold onto that funding, suggests that progress will be made in 2026.
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