The Government and the Sports Leadership Group have today published the latest Sports Action Plan, which covers the period from now until the end of the current National Sports Policy in 2027.

The new Plan, published to ensure the continued development and success of Irish sport, is the third such plan in the policy’s lifetime.

It also includes an update on the initiatives in the last one, primarily driven by steadying the ship through and after Covid.

Today’s plan has 47 specific initiatives under eight headings: Investment, Active and Social Participation, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Facilities and Events, Sport and Education, Sport and Sustainability, Governance and Capacity Building, and International.

On investment the National Sports Policy committed the Government to doubling funding in sport to more than €220 million by 2027, compared to 2018 levels, and this target has been reached two years ahead of schedule, with Budget 2025 having allocated over €230 million for sport.

Increased collaboration and the multi-sport ‘ model are referenced among the four areas specific to this as are capacity building concerning EU funding and philanthropy.

Support for the roll out of Local Sports Plans is referenced under Active and Social Participation. The four Dublin Local Authorities and four others around the country have been to the fore in this with added emphasis on the rest of the country delivering in 2025.

There is also specific reference to reducing the gradients of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, persons with a disability, the Traveller and LGBTQ communities, volunteering support and the creation of a Physical Literacy Plan to 2028.

The appointment of Leads at Sport Ireland with specific responsibility for Disability and the coordination of LSP and NGB connection with schools is identified and the production of a report and recommendations from the National Physical Activity Forum is also one of the actions.

There are seven actions under sport and sustainability, with six of them to be led by the Department as opposed to Sport Ireland. The convening of a Sport and Environmental Sustainability Conference is something that is very much on Sport for Business’ radar for next year.

Multi annual capital investment on the Sport Ireland Campus is listedas is the establishment of a funding scheme to support the hosting of smaller scale international sporting events.

The promotion of Hurling and Camogie in line with their UNESCO listing is called out in the International section.

“The publication of the new Sports Action Plan underlines the commitment and determination of the government to increase our participation levels in sport and physical activity,” said Minister of State Thomas Byrne.

“In order to meet our ambitious participation targets, we need to promote a ‘Sport for All’ approach and the publication of this new plan is one way in which we are working to tackle the participation gap where it exists, such as among people with a disability.”

“The new Sports Action Plan advances the significant progress made to date under the National Sports Policy when it comes to increasing our participation levels, developing high performance sport in Ireland and in improving the governance and capacity of the sport sector.”

“Budget 2025 also represented a landmark moment for Irish sport when funding for sport was more than doubled compared to 2018 levels, which meant that a key priority under the National Sports Policy was met, two years ahead of schedule.”

“In my dual role as Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, I recognise how important it is to get people involved in sport from a young age and, fundamentally, to find ways to encourage them to stay involved throughout their life.”

“The new Sports Action Plan includes a strong focus on developing the link between sport and education, involving a series of actions to support such initiatives, as the Active School Flag programme, as well endeavouring to maximise community access to sports facilities in schools.”

You can download the full Sports Action Plan 2024-2027 by clicking on the cover image below.

 

 

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