ISC allocates €9.5m in core grants to 58 Governing Bodies in 2007
Irish Sports Council Allocates €9.5 million in Grants to 58 Governing Bodies of Sport in 2007
Increasing participation in sport the strategic imperative for all governing bodies
January 17, 2007.
Minister O’Donoghue: “The work of National Governing Bodies in the delivery of sports programmes is one of the pillars of sports policy and the Government appreciates this work. This is reflected in the substantial and enhanced investment in sport by the Government over the past 4 years and again in 2007."
Increasing participation in sport will be the key strategic focus of all governing bodies of sport being funded by the Irish Sports Council from 2007. Under the 2007 core funding announced today (January 17) the Council is investing €9.5 million in 58 national governing bodies of sport (NGBs).
The total budget for the year is €9.5 million. Today’s announcement details €9.18 million of that total to 54 of the sports, with four grants outstanding. The equivalent total investment in 2006 was €8.29 million, representing an increase of 16% for 2007.
Horse Sport Ireland is the newly established governing body for both the sport and breeding elements of horse sport in this country and their funding is in addition to the €9.5 million budget. Funding of €1.85 million is earmarked for equestrian sport in 2007.
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O’Donoghue TD, made the formal announcement at a special reception in Dublin for representatives of the governing bodies. During his speech the Minister highlighted the work of governing bodies for key target groups including programmes for people with a disability, women in sport and in areas of disadvantage.
Ossie Kilkenny, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council, hosting the reception for the governing bodies, commented: “The Council’s strategic imperative is to increase participation in sport in Ireland. Governing bodies are central to achieving that aim and our investment in these sports organisations will be focused on ensuring enhanced quantity and quality of participation”.
The core activities covered by the grants include administration of the sports, the employment of professional staff, coach development and assorted development activities. For certain sports it may also include hosting events and programmes aimed at increasing participation.
John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council, said: “The Council works closely with governing bodies with the aim of developing strong organisations. We have seen major advances by many in recent years. The organisations are delivering excellent services and are well placed to increase participation in sport, the ultimate aim of sports policy in Ireland”.
The governing bodies and the wider sports community continues to rely on voluntary effort, with 400,000 adults acting as volunteers in sport each year. However, professional staff must augment that effort in the governing bodies with many organisations now having full time professional Chief Executives working with coaches, development officers and administrative staff. Currently there are 235 full time and 109 part time staff employed by the sports eligible under the this grant scheme.
The Irish Sports Council budget for 2007 is €49.025 million. The budget for core grants to governing bodies is €9.5 million. In addition governing bodies receive direct funding for participation measures such as the Underage Participation Grant (GAA, FAI, IRFU), the high performance investment and the Irish Institute of Sport and the Women in Sport Programme. This will amount to 60% of the Council’s budget for the year, or €29 million. The Council was established in 1999 and in that year grants to governing bodies totalled €4.8 million.
For further information contact
Paul McDermott Irish Sports Council
01-8608802 087- 6486295
Programme Highlights, Events and Staff
The 2007 allocations represents a substantial increase in the amount of funding being made available for core funding with an increase of €1.1m over the 2006 total figure. The major increases for sports are listed below:
The Athletics Association of Ireland receives an allocation of €1.2 million, an increase of €380,000, to enable them to continue their ambitious plans to develop the sport at both the participation and high performance levels. The AAI now have a network of regional development officers in place who are working with local clubs and communities to encourage greater participation in athletics and to provide greater supports to volunteers on the ground.
The Irish Cricket Union received additional funding of €66,000 in 2006 to support preparation for the Cricket World Cup in 2007. This funding has been further increased for 2007 with €72,122 to support the team in the Caribbean in Spring 2007.
This enhanced support, making a total of €290,000, will enable the team to prepare and train for this prestigious event for which they secured qualification in 2005.
Special Olympics Ireland were allocated €917,000, an increase of €388,154 in 2007. This is designed to support the attendance of Irish athletes at the World Games in Shanghai, China. Funding of €425,000 from the total will be dedicated to team and its support personnel for preparation, training and competing at the Games.
Swim Ireland is allocated €591,000, an additional €128,000 in 2007 to enable them to roll out their plans for coach education and development of swimming in Ireland. This increased funding also supports the appointment of staff including development officers and a full time Children’s Officer.
Basketball Ireland receives €639,032, an increase of €100,000, this year to support the full year costs of the regional development officers that were appointed in 2006. These development officers are responsible for delivering on Basketball Ireland’s strategic plan and are working closely with clubs, schools and Local Sports Partnerships around the country.
Badminton Ireland will receive an additional €90,850, making a total of €383,000 in 2007, to assist them with the ongoing modernisation of their administration including the appointment of their first CEO later in 2007. This increase in funding will also allow them to extend the work of their successful network of part time regional development officers.
The Irish Hockey Association receives an enhanced allocation of €258,059 in 2007 to build on the work carried out in 2006 on the production of a National Development Plan for the sport. This increased funding of €68,500 will enable the appointment of additional development staff to assist in implementing the proposals in the plan at national and provincial level.
Major Events
The Irish Sports Council supports governing bodies hosting in excess of 50 international sports events in 2007. They include the following major events.
Boxing – Ireland will also host the EU Championships in June and senior international bouts against Russia (February), Poland (October), Serbia (November) and Holland (November).
Rowing – The Home International Regatta is an annual event which Ireland hosts once every four years. Ireland will host the event at Inniscara in July at which Ireland will compete against England, Scotland and Wales.
Gymnastics – The Northern European Gymnastics Championships is a major event which will showcase some of the best gymnasts in the world at present. The Championships will be held in October in Dublin for the first time.
Sailing – Ireland will host six major World and European Championships in 2007 in Dublin and Waterford. These include the following classes Dragon, Etchells, Enterprise, Feva, Laser 4.7 and 1720. Up to 25 countries will compete in the largest of these events the Dragon World Championships at the Royal St George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, from 30 August to 7 September.
Staffing
Currently there are 235 full time and 109 part time staff employed by the sports eligible under the this grant scheme. Significant appointments funded for 2007 in NGBs include:
Athletics Association of Ireland – The network of Regional Development Officers
Cycling Ireland – Executive Director
Mountaineering Council of Ireland – Chief Officer
Badminton Ireland – Chief Executive Officer and extension of regional development officer network
Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael – Three regional development co-ordinators
Irish Hockey Association – Two regional development officers
Swim Ireland – A full time Children’s Officer and two development officers
Volleyball Association of Ireland – Two full time development officer