FUNDS TO KICKSTART SPORT WELCOMED
A significant new funding package of up to €70 million has been announced to help sports across the country restart activity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local TD Fergus O’Dowd has welcomed the measure, saying this will be the kickstart that is needed after months of lockdown.
‘ This is great news for clubs and organisations in Louth and East Meath who need help to get back up and running again after this enforced period of inaction. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious financial impact on the sports we all love, due to a huge loss of revenue from the cancellation of games and competitions,’ said Deputy O’Dowd.
‘Sport of all kinds is so important to the health and wellbeing of people as well as serving to bind our communities together, and I’m told that as part of this new funding package, up to €40 million will be provided for the three main field sports organisations – the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU.’
Included is also a Resilience Fund of up to €10 million designed to support National Governing Bodies who find themselves in need of assistance to avoid closing.
‘€15 million is allocated to a Sports Club Resilience Fund, to help clubs in need of assistance to avoid closing, while there is also a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund worth up to €5 million for clubs ineligible for the Government’s Restart Grants scheme or the Government supports for the community and voluntary sector to cope with the challenge of COVID-19,’ he added.
‘ The Department of Transport, Tour] ism and Sport will now engage with Sport Ireland to design the new grant schemes. Sport Ireland will then announce an open invitation for applications from funded bodies for assistance under the grant scheme, with the funding to be distributed through the National Governing Bodies.’
He said that despite all of the challenges, it is heartening to see that so many people have recognised the importance of staying active during the Covid-19 crisis.
‘We are now seeing more adults than ever actively participating in sport, with huge numbers having taken up cycling, running and recreational walking. I welcome today’s acceleration of the Roadmap reopening – it’s great news and greatly appreciated by sports people throughout Ireland.
‘ There is a huge opportunity now to secure a lasting improvement in the health and wellbeing of our nation by engaging with children and adults who have become more active during the crisis and putting in place programmes to help them go from casual sporting activity into lifelong participation.
‘ The Sports Restart and Renewal Fund will assist sporting bodies and local sports partnerships to maximise this opportunity.’