Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
191. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the section of her Department that was responsible for drafting the eligibility criteria for the €88.5 million of pandemic support for sporting organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37048/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total 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.
The funding package included support for the three main field sports organisations (the FAI, GAA and IRFU), a Resilience Fund to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport, a Sports Club Resilience Fund to support clubs, and a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund.
The funding was invested through new grant schemes developed by Sport Ireland in consultation with my Department's Sports Policy Division. The criteria and terms and conditions of funding were drafted by Sport Ireland in accordance with Section 11 of the Sport Ireland Act 2015, which provides that Sport Ireland shall establish the criteria and terms and conditions of its grant funding schemes.
The schemes were administered by Sport Ireland. Funding allocations to NGBs and clubs under the new schemes were determined following a robust grant application and assessment process conducted by Sport Ireland.
