The budget for the day to day management of sport from high performance to grassroots is to climb by €3 million in 2016 with a strong emphasis on helping Olympic and Paralympic preparations for Rio as well as additional boosts for Hockey, Pentathlon, Women’s Rugby and Golf based on specific performances or events.
Sport Ireland shipped out to the West of Ireland yesterday where Minister of State for Sport Michael Ring made the announcement on funding for 59 Governing Bodies of sport and the additional supports to apply for 2016.
To support Irish participation at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games in August and September, a total grant package in excess of €10 million was announced.
In addition, with the supports of the services of the new Institute of Sport High Performance Training Centre at Sport Ireland’s National Sports Campus, the total investment in High Performance Sport for 2016 will be well in excess of €11 million.
In addition, there was a package of €10.6 million invested in National Governing Bodies of Sport with a further €5 million investment through the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships.
Reading through the core funding allocations to each of the 59 governing bodies that receive funding through Sport Ireland it is clear that this was a ‘steady as she goes’ determination. All of the NGB’s bar one received a small increase in funding over what was available in 2015.
The two biggest increases are both in Women’s sport with Ladies Football up a little over €15,000 and Camogie up a little over €16,000.
The Community Games benefits from a special one off increase in money towards marketing of €30,000, while Triathlon Ireland has also seen an increase of €10,000 to €108,000.
Every other sport has seen a marginal lift of just under €5,000 with the unfortunate exception of Canoeing Ireland which has dipped in core grant funding by €193 though ambitious plans for the sport in years to come could see that small wrong righted in fine fashion.
Funding for specific Women in Sport programmes has been maintained at €600,000 with new grants available this year to tennis, Olympic Handball, Triathlon, Taekwondo and Weightlifting.
Fears that Boxing would suffer from the fall out of Billy Walsh’s departure have proved groundless with the high performance grant rising to €900,000 for the year, ahead of any other individual sport.
Athletics, Sailing, Hockey, Rowing and Pentathlon have also seen substantial increases in line with success achieved in qualifying competitors for the Rio Olympics.
Sport Ireland has also approved an investment of €200,000 in a new venture under the Confederation of Irish Golf which seeks to leverage the over performance in global terms of Irish golfers and the return that generate for the country.
Grants will be made available to individuals seeking to break through on main tours and Ireland will host an event on the Challenge Tour this year, support for which is also included.
“I am pleased to announce this significant investment in Irish sport for 2016, through Sport Ireland’s package of grants for the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the Local Sports Partnerships,” said Minister Ring.
“The grants announced today will not only support the core activities of sports bodies, including their administration, they will also support very important sport programmes such as the Women in Sport and High Performance programmes, and the full range of services provided by Local Sport Partnerships around the country.”
“I am delighted to have been able to increase Sport Ireland’s budget by €3 million this year, which has enabled Sport Ireland to support High Performance sport in what is a very important year, with the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place.”
“In addition, it is envisaged that significant funds will be available through Dormant Accounts Funding for sports programmes in disadvantaged communities to support the recently announced National Physical Activity Plan.”
“The increase in funding for this year is a recognition of the Government’s commitment and my own personal commitment to Sport”.
“We are delighted to announce a wide range of grants for Governing Bodies which cover the critical period of 2016 towards Rio as well as a wide range of important programmes which are covered by the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the Local Sports Partnerships,” added Sport Ireland Chair Kieran Mulvey.
“Sport has flourished over the past number of years despite financial difficulties and NGB’s have continued to expand their services.”
“It’s a really exciting time for Sport in Ireland,” concluded Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy.
“The establishment of the new agency has given Irish Sport a new home at Sport Ireland’s National Sports Campus and with the additional resources made available to us this year we will drive on and continue to develop the Irish Sports sector.”
“While 2016 will be a vital year in relation to Rio, we are also focused on our other obligations including our participation initiatives, supporting events at home and our anti doping programme.”
