The Government has announced a record €28.5 million investment in high performance sport for 2026, reinforcing its commitment to sustaining Ireland’s success on the global stage.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan and Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy Charlie McConalogue confirmed that the funding will be distributed through Sport Ireland, marking the highest annual allocation ever made to the high performance system.

The investment represents an increase on the €27 million provided in 2025 and brings total funding to more than €55 million by the midpoint of the current Olympic and Paralympic cycle leading to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“Last year was a record-breaking one for Irish athletes, with a total of 127 major medals won,” said O’Donovan. “These results were achieved across a great number of sports and backed up by significant Government investment.”

That medal return reflects a broad base of success, including 48 senior medals (17 gold, 13 silver, 18 bronze) and 79 non-senior medals, alongside a strong gender balance across podium performances.

Broad-Based Investment Across the System

The €28.5 million allocation reflects a structured and increasingly sophisticated funding model across multiple strands of the high performance system.

The largest share, €13.35 million, will go directly to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to support High Performance Programmes, representing a 5 per cent increase across all 16 funded sports. Rowing Ireland and Swim Ireland are among the highest recipients at €1.155 million each, with Athletics Ireland and Boxing Ireland both receiving over €1.1 million. Irish Sailing, Gymnastics Ireland and Paralympics Ireland will also recieve in excess of €1 million.

Direct athlete funding will rise to €4.75 million, supporting 139 athletes across podium, world-class and international levels, including a strong cohort of para athletes. This includes continued investment in the International Carding Scheme, widely regarded as a cornerstone of Ireland’s elite performance model.

Additional allocations include:

€4.35 million for the Sport Ireland Institute, enhancing access to world-class performance services
€1.6 million for high performance coaching
€600,000 for performance pathways, reflecting a growing emphasis on talent development
€300,000 for innovation, almost doubling last year’s allocation

Support for key partners also increases, with the Olympic Federation of Ireland receiving €750,000 and Paralympics Ireland €800,000 to underpin Games preparation and system-wide collaboration.

Expanding the Talent Pipeline

Beyond established high performance programmes, Sport Ireland is continuing to invest in emerging and developing sports through its Performance Development Programme.

Nine sports, including basketball, squash, volleyball and mountaineering, will receive targeted support in 2026, with allocations tailored to their stage of development. The initiative is designed to build future Olympic and Paralympic potential by strengthening pathways and increasing international exposure.

At the same time, pathway development funding—introduced as a pilot in 2025—has already demonstrated impact in coaching capacity, athlete progression and system development, and will be expanded further in 2026.

Strategic Focus on Coaching, Innovation and Welfare

A defining feature of the 2026 investment is its continued focus on long-term system building.

High performance coaching funding rises to €1.6 million, supporting recruitment, mentoring and development programmes aligned with Olympic and Paralympic cycles through to Brisbane 2032.

Innovation is also an increasing priority, with projects already underway in sailing, cycling, gymnastics and rowing, alongside a growing collaboration network linking NGBs with research and technology partners.

In parallel, Sport Ireland has strengthened its athlete welfare framework, introducing enhanced standards, oversight and accountability measures to ensure best practice across the system.

A System Built for Sustained Success

CEO Dr Úna May described the investment as arriving at a critical moment in the High Performance Strategy 2021–2032, while Chair of the High Performance Committee Deirdre Ryan highlighted the focus on coaching, innovation and pathway development.

The figures also reflect a system that has grown significantly in scale in recent years, with a substantial increase in investment across successive Olympic cycles.

With the LA cycle now at its midpoint, the message is clear: Ireland’s high performance model is not only delivering results but is being resourced to sustain and build on them.

The scale, structure and strategic targeting of this latest investment underline a clear ambition—to ensure Irish athletes remain competitive, visible and successful at the highest levels of international sport.

Image Credit: Sport Ireland

 

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