Louth TD 'delighted' at €52m funding boost for sports sector
Almost €52 million in funding for sport sector under number of separate support programmes
Louth TD, Peter Fitzpatrick, says he is delighted at the €52m funding boost for Sports to provide for ongoing recovery of sector and to support continued participation in sport and physical activity.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, together with Sport Ireland, have announced almost €52 million in funding for the sport sector under a number of separate support programmes.
As part of Budget 2023, a funding package of €35m was made available to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for sports clubs and organisations with a view to ensuring that everyone can continue to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity over the winter months, said Deputy Fitzpatrick.
Additionally, the Sports Energy Support Scheme (SESS) was launched by Sport Ireland on the 15th of November and to date €21m has been allocated to support sporting organisations with the rising energy costs associated with the provision of sport. The remaining funding will be allocated by Sport Ireland early in the New Year.
Deputy Fitzpatrick says that not only is this a positive step to ensure that immediate steps are now taken to support the sector, but he confirms that €15m in COVID funding is also being allocated to help sports organisations to continue their recovery and growth post pandemic, thereby ensuring that people of all ages and abilities are afforded the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity and enjoy all of the associated health and wellbeing benefits.
On top of this, Deputy Fitzpatrick assures that a further €0.8m is being provided to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport for the purchase of sports equipment primarily designed to assist in the delivery of Sport Ireland’s High Performance Strategy. An allocation has also been provided to Swim Ireland for the purchase of an additional “pop-up” pool on foot of the success of the first such pool funded in 2021.
Further funding of €1m is also being provided to Sport Ireland to support a number of specific key projects, said Deputy Fitzpatrick. This will further enhance Ireland’s sporting profile including the hosting of the 2023 Euro Hockey Men’s Championships II, the staging of a podium event by Gymnastics Ireland and Swim Ireland’s hosting of an inaugural U23 European Swim Championship at the National Aquatics Centre.
The funding will also support a number of initiatives aimed at improving the profile and visibility of female athletes across all sports, with specific support for women in football and women in rugby programmes.
Deputy Fitzpatrick, who is also chairman of Louth GAA, said: “The government has been trying to soften the impact of the Covid pandemic, extending significant financial assistance to the sports sector. Administration costs almost doubled, while training expenses multiplied by four in Louth as a result of Covid.
"The funding announced in the budget, on top of the funding announced today, is badly needed by clubs at all levels and will be critical in their recovery. This funding will provide stability to clubs during a time of rising energy costs which are associated with the provision of sport.
"It is ecstatically welcomed in County Louth, said the Louth TD & Chairman of Louth GAA, and will certainly attract tourists to the county, especially given the progress being made in the delivery of Louth GAA stadium”.