IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL Irish Sports Council Announces €9million High Performance Package

IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES €9 MILLION HIGH PERFORMANCE SUPPORT

15 focus sports will receive €5.935 million for their high performance plans
Athletes and teams will receive €2.213 million under the Carding Scheme
Additional €935,000 for Irish Institute of Sport Programmes
Total of €30.06 million invested in this Olympic & Paralympic cycle

The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism Mr. Seamus Brennan T.D. announced today (February 13) details of the Irish Sports Council’s investment in excess of €9 million in high performance sport bringing to over €30 million the total investment in high performance sport in this Olympic and Paralympic cycle.

In the critical Olympic and Paralympic year every athlete representing Ireland in Beijing will be comprehensively supported. The two established schemes of Performance Planning coupled with the International Carding Scheme will ensure that the best possible supports in every aspect of preparation and training are offered to elite athletes. They will be augmented by a series of new programmes to be introduced in 2008 by the Irish Institute of Sport; each offering practical and significant benefits to Ireland’s sporting elite.

The International Carding Scheme is well established and remains a central pillar of the support system with 255 athletes (and four teams) from junior to contracted world class level supported in 2008 to the tune of €2.213million. For the first time the International Carding Scheme is the direct responsibility of the Institute as it assumes responsibility for services and funding for Ireland’s elite Irish athletes.
 
The carding scheme is augmented by the Performance Plan programme consisting of each sport’s specific elite campaigns from junior right through to world class level. Almost €6 million is invested in the performance planning programme this year.

Designed and implemented by a Performance Director through a series of discussions with the Irish Sports Council and the Irish Institute of Sport the plans cover training camps, competition requirements, coaching, sports science and medical support and equipment requirements. Performance Directors ensure that the Carding Scheme and Performance Plans are complementary and, overseeing both schemes, ensure elite athletes are supported across all the financial and non-financial aspects of their programmes.   

Ireland’s elite male and female amateur golfers also receive significant support in the Performance Planning programme through the Golfing Union of Ireland and Irish Ladies Golf Union plans.

The Irish Institute of Sport has set out an ambitious programme of activity for 2008. A Performance Athlete Scholarship Scheme (PASS) will be the flagship lifestyle programme for the Institute this year, alongside a Career Development programme that is already being piloted, a Quality Assurance scheme for service providers, an applied research programme, and the development of a web based injury management system.

To an invited audience of athletes and performance directors, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. Seamus Brennan TD, made the announcement, with the package which comprises €5.935 million for high performance plans, €2.213 million under the International Carding Scheme and an additional €935,000 for new programmes being rolled out in 2008 by the Irish Institute of Sport.

 “We are building a high performance system that we can be proud of in Ireland. Obviously the work comes into focus in an Olympic and Paralympic year. I am satisfied that every athlete that will represent Ireland in Beijing in 2008 has been provided with the best support possible. Preparation for Beijing started four years ago and we must get behind the athletes and let them know we are proud of their achievements and will support them as representative of Ireland” said Minister Brennan.

Ossie Kilkenny Chairman of the Irish Sports Council commented: “The Council is investing significant sums into Irish elite sport. It is using the investment to bring about significant and rapid improvements in the way athletes are supported. Crucially this has been done through strong collaborations in the sports system, with the Minister and our colleagues in the Department who provide the funds, with the sports who put in place the new systems and deliver the programmes and the coaches, athletes and support personnel who are implementing the programmes daily”.

Sean Kelly, Executive Chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport said at the launch event: “The Institute is up and running and we have set out a clear work programme for 2008. We will work with coaches, athletes and all the support personnel throughout this vital year to ensure that they have everything they require to maximise their performances. The Institute will also be rolling out a number of exciting programmes that will bring practical and significant benefits to our performers. The Institute is about delivery and getting things done. These programmes have been talked about for a long time but we want to move on and deliver them now, and if we do so over the year it will be a fine 12 months work”.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council, speaking at the event, said “The three strands of support; Performance Plans, Carding and the Institute programmes ensure that our athletes have a comprehensive support network for their entire sports career. As a former athlete I understand how crucial that total support is. I’m confident the system in place actively supports our athletes and significantly enhances their chances of success on the international stage”.
Ends

Note 1: Horse Sport Ireland funding will be announced shortly.
Note 2: The Olympic Council of Ireland and Paralympic Council of Ireland core funding will be announced shortly. The PCI performance Plan funding is included today.
Note 3: A small number of athletes are not included on the list of allocations today as their applications are still in process.

Further information from:
Paul McDermott, Irish Sports Council, 087-6486295, pmcdermott@irishsportscouncil.ie

Sinéad McElroy, Irish Sports Council, 087-6338512, smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie

Attached:
Two Case Studies of athlete support; Kenny Egan & Jamie Costin
Details of 2008 International Carding Scheme & Performance Plans
Details of Update on Irish Institute of Sport