IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL Council Welcomes Extra Funding in 2006 Estimates

The Irish Sports Council today (Nov 17th 2005) welcomed a 19% increase in its funding allocation to €40.9 million in 2006.

Mr. Ossie Kilkenny, Chairperson of the Irish Sports Council commented: “The Council sincerely appreciates the significant support offered by this Government to our work and to the further development of sport in Ireland. On behalf of the Council, our stakeholders, and the wider sporting public I would like to thank Minister O’Donoghue for the unprecedented levels of investment in, and his continued commitment to, Irish sport.”

A key objective of the Irish Sports Council’s strategic plan is the roll out of a nationwide network of Local Sports Partnerships, of which there are currently 16. The funding announced today will enable the extension of the network of partnerships.

Funding is also being directed towards the establishment of structures for an Irish Institute of Sport which will form the basis of a long-term and sustainable high performance structure in this country.

In the 2005 Budget Minister O’Donoghue indicated to the Council that he wanted the issue of women’s participation in sport addressed as a priority, and allocated €750,000 to do so. In response the Council developed a ‘Women in Sport Initiative’, and is pleased this increased Estimate recognises the importance of that Initiative by repeating that funding, and significantly supplementing it by a further €1.5m, bringing its allocation to €2.25m for the coming year.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of Irish Sports Council said: “The support of the Government for the Council, once again practically demonstrated by a significant increase in financial resources for 2006, is essential if we are to complete our important work. The increased funding will enable us to continue to implement our strategic objectives, further our participation strategy, and enhance our supports to high performance sport including the development of an Irish Institute of Sport.”

Since the introduction of the special budget measure in 2001 the Irish Sports Council has worked with the GAA, FAI and IRFU in rolling out innovative national plans aimed at increasing participation in sport by young people. 2006 will see an additional €1m made available to the FAI to support the implementation of their technical development plan, and focus on attracting more women participants into the sport.

The welcome increase will also cater for the continued support and enhancement of new initiatives introduced last year to assist the development of hurling and camogie on a nationwide basis (€1.5m), and the development of Gaelic Games in Dublin (€1m).

The Estimate for 2006 is an increase on €34.4 million for 2005. The Irish Sports Council was established in 1999 and had a budget of €13.4 million in 2000, its first full year in existence.

For more information please contact: Sinéad McElroy Irish Sports Council   01-8608804