The Budget announced yesterday has delivered an additional €8 million for sport in 2023 but the full detail of how and where this will be directed will not be fully clear until later today.
Minister of State Jack Chambers announced the detail we know so far that the additional figure will be €8 million, half of which will go towards a high-performance coaching fund and the remainder towards actions aimed at furthering the Sports Action Plan that was published in 2021.
The actual figure will be higher with support promised to clubs and swimming pool operators to mitigate higher fuel costs.
There was no specific reference to the call for a reallocation of money from taxes on sugar and gambling though the Department did say that there would be an ongoing discussion with the Federation of Irish Sport in relation to proposals on matters that would be in the remit of the Revenue Commissioners.
Last year the ‘additional’ figure for sport was only €4.3 million, making a current funding allocation for Sport Ireland of €96.2 million. If the €8 million is on top of that it will be a win for sport with extra measures of support for clubs and pools added to the additional funding provided to assist recovery post-covid.
“I’m proud that Budget 2023 will deliver for sport so we can grow participation levels across society, support our very best and brightest sporting talent and enhance our sporting infrastructure and facilities all over the country,” said Minister of State Chambers who will, together with Catherine Martin as Minister host a briefing on the Department allocations later today.
Elements to watch out for in the additional detail will be the potential timetable of an additional Sports Capital Fund, as well as larger scale allocations to major Sports Infrastructure Funds including the continued development of the Sport Ireland Campus.
