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Sports Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Questions (425)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

425. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she expects to be in a position to assist the various sporting organisations nationally by way of grants or other assistance throughout the course of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22343/21]

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Written answers

A Covid-19 funding package of €88.5 million was provided last year to support the sport sector. This significant investment benefited all levels of the sport sector, including thousands of grassroots clubs across the country, and provided some certainty for sporting organisations in their planning for 2021.

I fully recognise that the financial and operational challenges associated with Covid-19 will continue well into this year and many sporting organisations and clubs are facing financial challenges again this year. 

Last week, Sport Ireland announced the allocation of €40 million in funding to support sport at all levels, through its annual grant funding schemes for National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and high performance athletes. 

Additional funding of €26 million was allocated for Sport Ireland in Budget 2021 which will ensure that we can continue to support our valued sport sector.  This includes funding to provide for supports to the sector to meet the ongoing challenges of Covid-19. Decisions in relation to how this funding will be allocated and the criteria to be applied will be made by Sport Ireland in the coming months as the financial position of the sector becomes clearer.

Sport Ireland is in ongoing communication with NGBs and is assessing the financial needs of the sector for this year.  In addition, I am engaging with NGBs both bilaterally and through the Covid-19 Sports Monitoring Group, which met most recently on 9 April, with regard to the supports required.

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