Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
45. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if grants to cover the costs of grassroots football coaching badges similar to those in Belgium will be offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25378/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoaching is central to player development and it is important that competent coaches are available at grassroots level in all sports.
Sport Ireland Coaching, a unit within Sport Ireland, has the lead role for coaching in Ireland on an all island basis. Sport Ireland Coaching's main objectives incude raising the standard, status and profile of coaching in Ireland to provide performers and participants with the best quality coaching through their involvement in sport.
Working in partnership with the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the wider sporting sector, Sport Ireland Coaching leads the development of coaching in Ireland through the implementation of a quality coach and tutor education support programme.
Sport Ireland does not provide funding to cover the costs of football coaching badges and I am informed that it has no current plans to fund such initiatives.
In relation to football, Sport Ireland invests in the Football Association of Ireland, primarily through the Youth Field Sports Grant. This investment is broadly aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in football across Ireland. Programmes are based on a shared ethos of developing the grassroots of the games, growing participation numbers, improving standards and embracing communities outside of the traditional base of the sport.
In 2017, Sport Ireland invested over €2.5 million in the FAI through the Field Sport Grant, of which €305,000 was allocated by the FAI toward the support of Coach Education.
