Minister’s €32m funding boost for Irish athletes
Cash increase after a bumper year for our sports heroes
IRELAND’S top athletes are to benefit from a cash injection of almost €32million after a bumper year.
Irish competitors and teams lifted 77 medals or trophies at major events in 2018.
And that success has translated into Sport Ireland increasing its investment by almost €4.5million on last year’s figures and includes:
■ €12.8million in the core activity of National Governing Bodies
■ €8.46million in NGB High Performance Programmes
■ €820,000 in high performance funding for the Olympic Federation and Paralympics Ireland, and
■ €7.29million in the work of the Local Sports Partnerships.
Junior Sports Minister Brendan Griffin said: “The funding will assist in furthering Ireland’s ambitions at the highest level on the international stage.
“[Last year] was exceptional for Irish teams and athletes and we look forward to that success continuing into 2019 with Olympic and Paralympic qualification on the horizon for many athletes.
“In particular, the move to a two- year model for the International Carding scheme is to be welcomed as we look to give our top athletes the best possible opportunity to realise their potential on the international stage.”
The International Carding Scheme has risen by €34,000 to €1.934million.
Athletes to benefit from this include middle-distance runner Mark English, badminton ace Niall Mcveigh, cyclist Lydia Boylan, boxer Michaela Walsh and clay target shooter Aoife Gormally.
Sport Ireland chief John Treacy added: “A significant development this year is the move to a two-year model for the International Athlete Carding Scheme.
“This new approach will remove pressures associated with carding criteria and allow athletes to fully focus on Tokyo 2020.
“At a local level, the increased investment in the Sports Inclusion Disability Programme means all 29 Local Sports Partnerships will have a Sports Inclusion Disability Officer [to] provide support and... opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity.”