Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
324. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps that she is taking to improve funding for and access to high level competition by Irish disabled elite sportspeople; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23387/22]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including high performance sport and its funding allocations. It provides funding to Paralympics Ireland to support its administration and operational costs. Sport Ireland also provides High Performance Programme funding to Paralympics Ireland to support the delivery of its para programme, which supports Irish athletes in reaching finals and achieving medals at European Championships, World Championships, and the Paralympic Games. Sport Ireland has provided significant investment to disabled (para) athletes who compete in performance level sport.
The Government's long-standing commitment to para sport is evident in the amount of funding allocated for the most recent Tokyo Cycle, 2017-2020, whereby Sport Ireland invested €2.7 million into Paralympics Ireland’s High Performance Programme. The Sport Ireland High Performance Strategy 2021-2032 sets out the long-term vision for the high performance system. The funding being allocated in 2022 reflects these objectives and is an important step-change in how the Government, though Sport Ireland, supports high performance sport.
There will be an enhanced Government commitment to para sport over the Paris Olympics Cycle, 2021-2024. As recently announced, over that period Government funding will amount to €3.7 million to Paralympics Ireland’s High Performance Programme, representing an increase of €1 million compared to the Tokyo Olympics funding cycle.
Sport Ireland also provides funding to individual athletes through the International Carding Scheme. In 2022, €612,000 will be provided to para athletes to help support their performance endeavours.
The following Table summarises the level of funding allocated to Paralympics Ireland since 2017.
|
Paralympics Ireland |
Operations and Administration Funding |
HP Programme Funding |
Tokyo Games / Special Project |
International Carding Scheme (Athletics & Swimming) |
Total |
|
2022 |
€450,000 |
€1,000,000 |
- |
€260,000 |
€1,710,000 |
|
2021 |
€400,000 |
€700,000 |
€248,000 |
€344,000 |
€1,692,000 |
|
2020 |
€400,000 |
€700,000 |
€200,000 |
€350,000 |
€1,650,000 |
|
2019 |
€400,000 |
€700,000 |
€250,000 |
€364,000 |
€1,714,000 |
|
2018 |
€397,500 |
€665,000 |
€123,000 |
€352,000 |
€1,537,500 |
|
2017 |
€375,000 |
€665,000 |
- |
€337,000 |
€1,377,000 |
- Total International Carding Scheme for Para Athletes in 2022: €612,500
- Paralympics Ireland: €260,000
Additional funding allocated to Para athletes in 2022 through their individual National Governing Bodies is listed below:
- Badminton Ireland: €18,000
- Canoeing Ireland: €40,000
- Cycling Ireland: €258,500
- Table Tennis Ireland: €18,000
- Triathlon Ireland: €18,000
