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Pictured from left, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, TD, John Treacy, CEO, Irish Sports Council, Paraic Duffy, Ard Stiurthoir of the GAA, Philip Browne, CEO, IRFU and Packie Bonner, Technical Director of the FAI.
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The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr Martin Cullen TD, today announced a package of €9.9 million to support the work of the major field sports in developing their games around the country. The Irish Sports Council will support extensive participation programmes with €3.29 million for the GAA, €3.5 million for the FAI and €3.07 million for the IRFU.
This is the latest instalment in the money allocated by the Council to the GAA, FAI and IRFU since the Special Budget Measure was introduced in 2001. This measure was introduced with the specific aim of encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports with a particular emphasis on working in areas of disadvantage.
The investment targets every aspect of the sport that can make a contribution to the strategic aim of increasing participation including coach development, club support, under age programmes, volunteer support programmes, community schemes, referee development and targeting at-risk communities.
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These programmes are based on a shared ethos of developing the grass roots of the games, growing participation numbers and targeting communities outside of the traditional base of the sport. There is a significant return on the investment as the strengthening of sports organisations generates social, health and cultural benefits. Senior representatives of the three sports, Pلraic Duffy of the GAA, Packie Bonner of the FAI and Philip Browne from the IRFU, made presentations at the launch event detailing the progress made in recent years and their plans for 2009.
At an event in Croke Park the Minister highlighted the work of the three organisations in bringing sport into communities throughout the country. Minister Cullen: "The GAA, FAI and IRFU are deeply committed to broadening the participation base of their sports. Supported by the Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, their programmes deliver quality opportunities in sport for every community in Ireland, in which there is a significant benefit derived through the growth of these sports."
John Treacy, CEO, Irish Sports Council; "The Irish Sports Council shares a common ambition with the three major field sports to increase participation in sport and physical activity, particularly for young people. We recognise their capacity and potential for making a major impact on numbers taking part in sport, in all local communities."
The funding supports detailed action plans in each sport and significant investment by the sports from their own resources. There are many innovative programmes in each sport as well as the employment of a professional sports development team who support the roll-out of the programmes.
Further information from
- Paul McDermott Irish Sports Council 087-6486295
- Declan Lee OHC 01-66502744
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