Minister Thomas Byrne launches Sport Ireland Statement of Strategy (2023-2027)

Sport Ireland, the statutory authority responsible for the development of sport in Ireland, is proud to announce the launch of its ambitious and goal-oriented strategy for the period of 2023-2027. This strategy reflects Sport Ireland's commitment to fostering high levels of participation, engagement, achievement, and performance in all aspects of sport throughout the country.

The updated vision of Sport Ireland is centred around creating ‘an active Ireland where everyone can experience the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity’. As the leading advocate for sports development in Ireland, Sport Ireland will collaborate with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and partner organizations including National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) as well as other funded bodies to deliver its strategy.

Sport Ireland's strategy aims to achieve several key objectives:

• Increase levels of participation in sport, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion. Innovative programs and initiatives will be implemented to engage and encourage underrepresented groups in sports.
• Champion high-performance sport, supporting Irish teams, athletes, and support staff to excel on the international stage.
• Empower individuals to maintain commitment to their sports and engage in long-term participation.
• Enhance the number and quality of coaches, officials, administrators, and volunteers involved in running and supporting sports.
• Deliver crucial support services such as safeguarding and anti-doping to ensure ethical, safe, and fair play in sports.
• Further develop and improve the Sport Ireland Campus and sporting infrastructure across Ireland.

The strategy was officially launched by Minister for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, and is aligned with the targets outlined in the Government's National Sports Policy. This comprehensive strategy reflects Sport Ireland's dedication to its mission and values while strengthening its relationships with various partners, including the Department of NGBs, LSPs, other funded bodies, and the wider sport sector.

Minister for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD commented on launching the strategy “I am very pleased to officially launch Sport Ireland’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2027. Sport has multiple benefits, from the pride we feel when witnessing our high-performance athletes on the world stage, to the positive impact on our society's physical health and mental wellbeing. As a Government, we are determined to boost participation levels in sport and I welcome the strategy’s strong focus on active participation and social participation. The delivery of this wide-ranging strategy relies on strong partnership with National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships as well as other funded bodies and good governance will be a key factor. I look forward to working with Sport Ireland and my Department on this strategy which seeks to implement the goals of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.”

John Foley, Chairperson of Sport Ireland, highlighted the significance of the new five-year strategy, stating, "The development of our new five-year strategy is an opportunity to reflect upon and review Sport Ireland’s vision, mission, and values. It builds upon the progress made during our previous strategic cycle. It acknowledges and reinforces the alignment of Sport Ireland’s work with the National Sports Policy, the importance of our connection with the Irish Government, and our strong relationships with partners, in particular NGBs, LSPs, other funded bodies, and the wider sport sector, including clubs, communities, coaches, officials, administrators, and volunteers."

Dr. Una May, CEO of Sport Ireland, expressed the organization's commitment to delivering the strategy. "This strategy sets out a five-year vision of how Sport Ireland will lead the sport sector to further develop sport and physical activity in Ireland. The strategy was developed following a wide ranging consultation with key stakeholders and the general public. We have been encouraged by the number of contributions received and impressed by the quality of inputs throughout the consultation process. The key measure of success will be our ability to deliver on the participation and high-performance National Sports Policy targets, which we will pursue relentlessly over this next cycle," said Dr. May.

 To read the 2023 - 2027 strategy click here: Sport Ireland Strategy | Sport Ireland