Major €80m Funding Boost for Sports to recover, grow and attract people nationwide

13 Dec 2021

Cameron Molloy Moules

National

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jack Chambers T.D, together with Sport Ireland, have announced almost €80m for the sport sector under two separate support programmes.

Some €73.6m in Covid funding is being allocated under five separate streams to help sports organisations to recover and grow post pandemic, support our grassroots network of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.

A further €5.3m is being provided to sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) for the provision of sports equipment including the roll out of defibrillators for clubs, kits for school children and state of the art equipment for our high-performance athletes.

Today’s announcement follows a commitment from both Ministers of a €65 million COVID-19 investment programme. Additional investment has been provided through the 2021 Sport Ireland budget providing total COVID support of €73.617 million to the sector. The timing of the schemes provides stability and certainty to the sports sector as it emerges from the pandemic and plans for 2022.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said: “As a nation so fond of sports, we are very supportive of our clubs, our competitors and of course everyone who enjoys physical activity. But the last two years have been two of the most challenging for all sports organisations and the announcement of this funding will come as a relief for the sports sector. It’s important that the sport sector is on a firm financial footing. The additional funding, coupled with the increase in the budget for sport in 2022, will ensure the long-term viability of our sports organisations, high performance sport and will make sure sport remains accessible to all. These emergency funds will reach all corners of the country, a myriad of activities and ensure clubs and grassroots groups continue their great work.”

Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs Jack Chambers TD, added: “I welcome today’s allocations announced by Sport Ireland, which recognise the immense contribution that sport and physical activity has made to Ireland’s response to the pandemic. All facets of society continue to adjust as the public health situation evolves and our National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnership and sports clubs are to be commended on how they have adapted. Government understands that this has been challenging for all and the funding allocated today will assist the sector as it continues to play an important role in supporting all members of society getting and staying active.”

Specific investment has also been provided for the disability sport sector in line with the SportForAll initiative with, amongst others, Special Olympics Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Paralympics Ireland receiving financial support. A number of the approved equipment grants are also specifically targeted at disability sport.

This investment recognises the disproportionate and unanticipated extent of COVID-19 restrictions on their activities and the difficulties associated with a resumption and return to normal levels of activity.

Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “Sport Ireland has engaged extensively with the sector since the onset of the pandemic to understand the pressure points and where organisations need support. This is reflected in the allocations made today by Sport Ireland, which also factor in the wider economic and social impact of sport. It was a priority of the Board of Sport Ireland that the needs of the disability sector were specifically addressed, with ring-fenced funding being allocated in the allocations. The recent budget announcement by the Ministers of an increase in the overall sports funding for 2022 has further reinforced that sense of confidence that support is available. We look forward to working with our funded bodies and a positive 2022.”

The total amount of money available is designed to protect the existing physical and operational infrastructure of Irish sport. This is in recognition that any reconstruction of Irish sport would ultimately cost more over the long run.

Sport Ireland Chief Executive, John Treacy, said: “While organised sport has returned in a meaningful way in recent months, the impact of the restriction of the last two years is still being felt across the sector. Indoor sports in particular have been disproportionately affected, while a large number of outdoor sports have seen their commercial programmes hit. The funding announced by Sport Ireland will alleviate the pressure on these sports and help the wider club infrastructure to sustain their commendable efforts in providing for their membership. As throughout the pandemic, Sport Ireland remains available to our national sporting organisations to provide support and guidance where necessary.”

The COVID funding announced today is in addition to the COVID-19 contingency fund which was directed towards exceptional costs generated by the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, which were postponed for 12 months until this year. This contingency fund ensured National Governing Bodies were supported to address costs incurred that were beyond the scope of Sport Ireland’s High Performance Programme funding and other programme resources. Full details are set out in Appendix I.

In relation to the separate equipment funding, Sport Ireland was requested to identify and prioritise proposals from NGBs and LSPs which would advance the Government’s National Sports Policy with a focus on the areas of participation, inclusion, female involvement in sport and delivery of the Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy 2021-2032.

Following completion of their assessment process, Sport Ireland recommended grants totalling €5.3m broken down as follows:

€3.4m to support NGBs further advance participation opportunities;
€1.4m to support NGBs advance the strategic objectives of the Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy; and
€0.5m to Local Sports Partnerships to advance participation and physical opportunities at a community level.

Full details of these equipment grants are shown in Appendix II.

Appendix I – COVID Supports

Scheme One – IRFU, FAI, GAA

This specific fund was created in recognition of the particular operational challenges facing the three largest field sports. These organisations’ ability to generate commercial income continued to be severely disrupted throughout 2021.

Scheme Two – NGB Resilience Fund

Broadly, the allocations cover the loss of income from events, ticket sales, sponsorship, affiliation & membership fees, courses, services and the additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols. It is acknowledged that indoor sports and Governing Bodies who are more reliant on commercial activity and have more diverse streams of income will require greater support.

Scheme Three – Club Resilience Fund

A large number of the challenges faced by Governing Bodies are replicated across their Club network with income from affiliation & membership fees, events, competition, coaching courses and ancillary services all reduced. The additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols has also had a significant impact on Club activities where the sharing of equipment, facilities and resources is common place. In addition, there are a number of Governing Bodies whose network of Clubs consist of commercial organisations operating out of dedicated facilities with full time staff and strong annual turnovers. Such organisations are more reliant on membership, competition and coaching revenues as well as income from ancillary sporting and non-sporting commercial activity.

Sport Ireland will not fund Clubs, Affiliates, Provinces or Branches directly and funding will be accessed through programmes established by the Governing Body.

Scheme Four – Swimming Pool & Facilities Fund

This scheme provides specific funding to support the reopening and continued viability of Swimming Pools along with the strategic facilities of National Governing Bodies & Local Sports Partnerships.

A Funding Scheme for swimming pools will be designed and delivered by Ireland Active in consultation with Sport Ireland.

Scheme Five - Resumption of Sport & Physical Activity

A Restart Fund to support the return of sport and physical activity post pandemic has been made available.

The Scheme seeks to support a number of key focus areas

A Disability Sport Fund
Older Adults Support
Third Level Education Support
NGB Grassroots & Indoor Sport Support
LSP Small Grant Scheme
LSP Grassroots Sport Support

Notes to the Editor:

Total Overall NGB Allocations

Organisation	Scheme One	Scheme Two	Scheme Three	Scheme Five	Total

Gaelic Athletic Association	20,000,000	-	-	-	20,000,000
Football Association of Ireland	19,000,000	-	-	-	19,000,000
Irish Rugby Football Union	18,000,000	-	-	-	18,000,000

Field Sports Total	57,000,000	-	-		57,000,000

Special Olympics Ireland	-	-	-	500,000	500,000
Irish Wheelchair Association Sport				142,000	142,000
CARA				80,000	80,000
Paralympics Ireland				65,000	65,000
Vision Sports Ireland	-	-	-	50,000	50,000
Disability Sport Total	-	-	-	837,000	837,000


Cricket Ireland	-	1,300,000	200,000	-	1,500,000
Basketball Ireland	-	360,000	550,000	100,000	1,010,000
Golf Ireland	-	-	700,000	200,000	900,000
Athletics Ireland	-	-	650,000	-	650,000
Irish Athletic Boxing Association		60,000	400,000	50,000	510,000
Gymnastics Ireland		-	500,000	-	500,000
The Camogie Association	-	500,000	-	-	500,000
Irish Martial Arts Commission	-	-	225,000	215,000	440,000
Swim Ireland	-	-	300,000	125,000	425,000
Horse Sport Ireland	-	-	300,000	200,000	500,000
Hockey Ireland	-	-	350,000	-	350,000
Irish Sailing	-	-	350,000	-	350,000
Badminton Ireland	-	130,000	-	200,000	330,000
Motor Sport Ireland	-	120,000	150,000	50,000	320,000
Triathlon Ireland	-	186,000	125,000	-	311,000
Volleyball Ireland	-	-	-	200,000	200,000
Irish Squash	-	-	60,000	125,000	185,000
Rowing Ireland	-	85,000	100,000	-	185,000
National Community Games	-	100,000	50,000	-	150,000
Irish Underwater Council / Diving Ireland	-	10,000	110,000	-	120,000
Canoeing Ireland	-	-	18,000	100,000	118,000
GAA Handball	-	-	-	100,000	100,000
Archery Ireland	-	32,000	50,000	7,000	89,000
Fencing Ireland	-	5,000	70,000	-	75,000
Irish Judo Association		15,000	20,000	35,000	70,000
Motorcycling Ireland	-	50,000	-	-	50,000
Olympic Handball	-	-	-	40,000	40,000
Bowling League of Ireland		-	40,000	-	40,000
Rugby League Ireland		-	15,000	20,000	35,000
Irish Taekwondo Union	-	15,000	10,000	-	25,000
ONAKAI	-	-	25,000	-	25,000
Racquetball Association of Ireland		5,000	20,000	-	25,000
Weightlifting Ireland	-	-	20,000	3,000	23,000
Tug of War	-	12,000	-	10,000	22,000
Irish Orienteering Association	-	-	-	20,000	20,000
Irish Surfing	-	-	-	20,000	20,000
American Football Ireland	-	-	8,000	10,000	18,000
Bol Chumann na hÉireann	-	-	15,000	-	15,000
Table Tennis Ireland	-	-	-	10,000	10,000
Angling Council Of Ireland	-	-	-	10,000	10,000
Federation of Irish Sport	-	-	14,000	-	14,000
Totals	57,000,000	2,985,000	5,445,000	1,850,000	10,280,000

LSP Small Grant Scheme

Carlow Sports Partnership	€ 28,800
Cavan Sports Partnership	€ 76,000
Clare Sports Partnership	€ 62,200
Cork Sports Partnership	€ 115,000
Donegal Sports Partnership	€ 40,600
Dublin City Sport and Wellbeing Partnership	€ 69,000
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership	€ 44,600
Fingal Sports Partnership	€ 40,600
Galway Sports Partnership	€ 49,000
Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership	€ 76,000
Kildare Sports Partnership	€ 53,000
Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership	€ 43,000
Laois Sports Partnership	€ 29,355
Leitrim Sports Partnership	€ 62,200
Limerick Sports Partnership	€ 142,000
Longford Sports Partnership	€ 55,200
Louth Sports Partnership	€ 44,600
Mayo Sports Partnership	€ 93,400
Meath Local Sports Partnership	€ 35,800
Monaghan Sports Partnership	€ 14,850
Offaly Sports Partnership	€ 33,800
Roscommon Sports Partnership	€ 20,300
Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership	€ 76,000
South Dublin County Sports Partnership	€ 28,800
Sports Active Wexford	€ 76,000
Tipperary Sports Partnership	€ 66,800
Waterford Sports Partnership	€ 32,455
Westmeath Sports Partnership	€ 54,840
Wicklow Sports Partnership	€ 35,800
Total	€ 1,600,000

LSP Grassroots Sport Support

Organisation	Amount
Carlow Sports Partnership	€ 50,950
Clare Sports Partnership	€ 38,644
Cavan Sports Partnership	€ 9,490
Cork Sports Partnership	€ 77,031
Donegal Sports Partnership	€ 27,600
Galway Sports Partnership	€ 49,000
Kildare Sports Partnership	€ 29,750
Laois Sports Partnership	€ 40,617
Leitrim Sports Partnership	€ 20,400
Limerick Sports Partnership	€ 62,665
Longford Sports Partnership	€ 20,800
Mayo Sports Partnership	€ 29,953
Roscommon Sports Partnership	€ 5,650
Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership	€ 28,991
Tipperary Sports Partnership	€ 4,500
Wicklow Sports Partnership	€ 3,960
Total	€ 500,000

Full Investment Breakdown

Organisation	Scheme One	Scheme Two	Scheme Three	Scheme Four	Scheme Five	Total

Gaelic Athletic Association	20,000,000	-	-		-	20,000,000
Football Association of Ireland	19,000,000	-	-		-	19,000,000
Irish Rugby Football Union	18,000,000	-	-		-	18,000,000

Field Sports Total	57,000,000	-	-			57,000,000

Special Olympics Ireland	-	-	-		500,000	500,000
Irish Wheelchair Association Sport					142,000	142,000
CARA					80,000	80,000
Paralympics Ireland					65,000	65,000
Vision Sports Ireland	-	-	-		50,000	50,000
Disability Sport Total	-	-	-		837,000	837,000


Cricket Ireland	-	1,300,000	200,000		-	1,500,000
Basketball Ireland	-	360,000	550,000		100,000	1,010,000
Golf Ireland	-	-	700,000		200,000	900,000
Athletics Ireland	-	-	650,000		-	650,000
Irish Athletic Boxing Association		60,000	400,000		50,000	510,000
Gymnastics Ireland		-	500,000		-	500,000
The Camogie Association	-	500,000	-		-	500,000
Irish Martial Arts Commission	-	-	225,000		215,000	440,000
Swim Ireland	-	-	300,000		125,000	425,000
Horse Sport Ireland	-	-	300,000		200,000	500,000
Hockey Ireland	-	-	350,000		-	350,000
Irish Sailing	-	-	350,000		-	350,000
Badminton Ireland	-	130,000	-		200,000	330,000
Motor Sport Ireland	-	120,000	150,000		50,000	320,000
Triathlon Ireland	-	186,000	125,000		-	311,000
Volleyball Ireland	-	-	-		200,000	200,000
Irish Squash	-	-	60,000		125,000	185,000
Rowing Ireland	-	85,000	100,000		-	185,000
National Community Games	-	100,000	50,000		-	150,000
Irish Underwater Council / Diving Ireland	-	10,000	110,000		-	120,000
Canoeing Ireland	-	-	18,000		100,000	118,000
GAA Handball	-	-	-		100,000	100,000
Archery Ireland	-	32,000	50,000		7,000	89,000
Fencing Ireland	-	5,000	70,000		-	75,000
Irish Judo Association		15,000	20,000		35,000	70,000
Motorcycling Ireland	-	50,000	-		-	50,000
Olympic Handball	-	-	-		40,000	40,000
Bowling League of Ireland		-	40,000		-	40,000
Rugby League Ireland		-	15,000		20,000	35,000
Irish Taekwondo Union	-	15,000	10,000		-	25,000
ONAKAI	-	-	25,000		-	25,000
Racquetball Association of Ireland		5,000	20,000		-	25,000
Weightlifting Ireland	-	-	20,000		3,000	23,000
Tug of War	-	12,000	-		10,000	22,000
Irish Orienteering Association	-	-	-		20,000	20,000
Irish Surfing	-	-	-		20,000	20,000
American Football Ireland	-	-	8,000		10,000	18,000
Bol Chumann na hÉireann	-	-	15,000		-	15,000
Table Tennis Ireland	-	-	-		10,000	10,000
Angling Council Of Ireland	-	-	-		10,000	10,000
Federation of Irish Sport	-	-	14,000		-	14,000
Age & Opportunity					100,000	100,000
Student Sport Ireland					100,000	100,000
Ireland Active				3,200,000		3,200,000
Local Sports Partnership Network					2,100,000	2,100,000
Totals	57,000,000	2,985,000	5,445,000	3,200,000	4,987,000	73,617,000

Appendix II – Sport Ireland Targeted Equipment Grants

National Governing Bodies of Sport Organisation	General Participation	High Performance	TOTAL
Football Association of Ireland	395,000		€395,000
Gymnastics Ireland		395,000	€395,000
Horse Sport Ireland	330,304	64,696	€395,000
Irish Rugby Football Union	395,000		€395,000
Irish Sailing	102,000	293,000	€395,000
Swim Ireland	359,000	36,000	€395,000
Rowing Ireland	60,000	325,000	€385,000
Gaelic Athletic Association	356,000		€356,000
Irish Athletic Boxing Association	259,000		€259,000
Canoeing Ireland	143,000	70,000	€213,000
Badminton Ireland	140,000	45,700	€185,700
Athletics Ireland	156,000	22,353	€178,353
Cricket Ireland	47,000	110,000	€157,000
Basketball Ireland	100,000		€100,000
Olympic Handball	100,000		€100,000
Snooker & Billiards Ireland	98,400		€98,400
Irish Martial Arts Commission	89,000		€89,000
Hockey Ireland		80,000	€80,000
Angling Council of Ireland	60,000		€60,000
Volleyball Ireland	55,000		€55,000
Tug of War Ireland	50,000		€50,000
Irish Underwater Council/Diving Ireland	35,000		€35,000
Table Tennis Ireland	25,100		€25,100
Irish Surfing	20,000		€20,000
Tennis Ireland		12,500	€12,500
Irish Wheelchair Association Sport	12,000		€12,000
Total Funding Requests [NGBs]	3,386,804	1,454,249	€4,841,053

Local Sports Partnerships (LSP’s)

Carlow LSP	€ 42,800
Cavan LSP	€ 22,461
Clare LSP	€ 10,000
Donegal LSP	€ 30,000
Kerry LSP	€ 84,000
Kildare LSP	€ 45,000
Laois LSP	€ 38,803
Leitrim LSP	€ 35,000
Longford LSP	€ 25,000
Meath LSP	€ 56,774
Monaghan LSP	€ 5,500
Offaly LSP	€ 20,000
Sligo LSP 1	€ 20,000
Tipperary LSP	€ 36,900
Waterford LSP	€ 9,800
Total	€482,038