Funding Boost for High Performance Sport

13 Aug 2018

The Board of Sport Ireland has confirmed the allocation of €1.5 million in additional high performance funding for National Governing Bodies for sport (NGBs).

The funding, which was confirmed by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, earlier today, will be used to assist NGB preparations for major competitions including the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and key World Championship events.

Following the extraordinary achievement of Ireland’s women’s team at the Hockey World Cup in London, the sport has demonstrated it now has two teams with realistic aims of qualifying and competing in Tokyo 2020. Today’s announcement sees €500,000 being allocated to Hockey Ireland to assist both teams in realising their Olympic ambitions.

Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “Sport Ireland is grateful for the additional funding for high performance sport, which followed detailed discussion with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister. The National Sports Policy which was published recently highlights the need for increased investment in high performance sport if Ireland is to reach its potential on the international stage. The funding being announced today is an important step towards this objective.”

In order to ensure athletes and teams are adequately prepared in advance of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, pre-competition camps are planned in both 2019 and 2020. There are significant costs associated with these vital activities and as such additional funding has been allocated to the Olympic Council of Ireland (€175,000) and Paralympics Ireland (€100,000).

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, added: “In early 2018, Sport Ireland identified an immediate need for investment in order to offset the high costs associated with qualifying and preparing for 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo and participation in other key World Championship events. We have worked closely with the National Governing Bodies to ensure that this funding will be targeted towards enhancing athlete and team performance. We look forward to seeing a return on this much needed investment in the years ahead.”

Following a detailed system review in 2017, Sport Ireland identified strategic requirements and specific needs within the High Performance system, not all of which could be addressed in the 2018 funding allocations. These requirements were to be a priority should any additional funding become available. The allocations announced today address these needs and reflect successes in performance from High Performance sports in 2018.

In total seventeen organisations will benefit from this injection of funding with allocations ranging from €20,000 to €500,000.

Funding Allocations:

Hockey Ireland €500,000

Olympic Council of Ireland €175,000

Paralympics Ireland €100,000

Horse Sport Ireland €175,000

Swim Ireland €75,000

Gymnastics Ireland €75,000

Athletics Ireland €50,000

Irish Athletic Boxing Association €50,000

Cycling Ireland €40,000

Rowing Ireland €40,000

Irish Sailing Association €40,000

Badminton Ireland €25,000

Irish Judo Association €25,000

Cricket Ireland €40,000

Confederation of Golf in Ireland €40,000

Taekwondo (Olympic) €20,000

Triathlon Ireland €30,000

Funding Process:

In 2017, Sport Ireland conducted a detailed system review with each high performance funded sport following the publication of the Rio Review
Sport Ireland identified strategic requirements and specific needs within the High Performance system as part of this process, not all of which could be addressed in the 2018 funding allocations. These requirements were to be a priority should any additional funding become available.
These allocations address these needs. Also, they reflect successes in performance from High Performance sports in 2018.
On notification of the additional funding, the executive of Sport Ireland reviewed the requirements of the High Performance system and made a recommendation to the Board of Sport Ireland which was subsequently approved.

Notes:

The process is ongoing:

Sports must submit plans for this investment which align to the purpose of funding as specified by Sport Ireland.
The funding must not substitute planned investment from other sources including the National Governing Bodies’ own investment to its High Performance Programme.
The allocations will not be a one-off investment, but will be treated as part of the Tokyo 2020 four-year investment plan.

The additional funding is provided to support specific projects and activities delivered by an NGB’s High Performance Programme:

Hockey Ireland (€500,000): To support the campaigns of the men’s and women’s senior teams to Tokyo 2020; to further enhance player support under the Carding Scheme; to advance the establishment of a base at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus; and the facilitate greater engagement with the Sport Ireland Institute.

Olympic Council of Ireland (€175,000): To support preparations for 2020 including the pre-Games Holding Camp and Tokyo projects

Paralympics Ireland (€100,000): To support preparations for Tokyo 2020 including a training camp this November and the pre-Games Holding Camp in 2020

Horse Sport Ireland (€175,000): To support Team Ireland’s participation in the World Equestrian Games in North Carolina, September 2018. Significant costs are associated with the transportation of horses to this event which is an Olympic qualification opportunity.

Swim Ireland (€75,000): To support the advancement of the National Performance Centre for swimming and diving at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, Dublin. To assist with the coaching and accommodation costs associated with this project.

Gymnastics Ireland (€75,000): To support the establishment of a National Training Centre for gymnastics at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, Dublin. To assist with the relocation, coaching and accommodation costs associated with this project.

Athletics Ireland (€50,000): To support the development of Irish coaches who are working with high potential junior athletes transitioning to senior level throughout the Tokyo cycle

Irish Athletic Boxing Association (€50,000): To support the costs associated with participation in the EU Boxing Championships which was added to the competition calendar in 2018. To facilitate the expansion of the coaching team based at the Sport Ireland Institute

Cycling Ireland (€40,000): To support the Track Cycling campaign to Tokyo 2020 and maximise the opportunities presented with the addition of new events to the Olympic programme

Rowing Ireland (€40,000): To advance the transition of junior rowers to senior level and support Rowing’s coaching programme.

Irish Sailing Association (€40,000): To support Sailing’s planned training camp to Japan this September. Significant contact hours in an established base at the Games’ location has been identified as a critical success factor to Sailing’s Olympic preparations.

Badminton Ireland (€25,000): To support Badminton’s coaching programme and assist the transition of junior players to senior level throughout the Tokyo cycle

Irish Judo Association (€25,000): To support the Olympic campaigns of Judo’s carded athletes, Megan and Ben Fletcher.

Cricket Ireland (€40,000): To support the women’s participation in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Tournament taking place in the Caribbean this November.

Confederation of Golf in Ireland (€40,000): To support the hosting of the World Amateur Team Championships in Carton House this August.

Irish Taekwondo Union (€20,000): To support the coaching programme of Taekwondo’ s carded athlete as they continue their campaign to Tokyo 2020.

Triathlon Ireland (€30,000): To support Triathlon Ireland’s campaign to qualify a mixed team relay to Tokyo 2020. This is a new event to the Olympic programme and provides two males and two females with an opportunity to target Olympic representation.

Rowing Ireland (€40,000): To advance the transition of junior rowers to senior level and support Rowing’s coaching programme.