Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2022
28. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase investment in boxing and give further support to both grass roots boxing clubs and high performance boxers to further advance the potential of Irish boxing given the exceptional success of Irish boxing, both female and male; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33254/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes the allocation of funding to sporting organisations, including the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA), across its various programmes.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
In relation to possible capital supports for boxing, my Department oversees two schemes of relevance.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas. The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. The assessment of all appeals is complete and the consequent allocations amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May.
The total allocation of €150 million for capital projects represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. All boxing clubs are entitled to apply directly for SCEP funding up to a value of €150,000 for local projects. It should be noted that 49 boxing clubs received funding under the 2020 SCEP round which is indicative of our commitment to the sport.
IABA also received an allocation of €259,000 under the 2021 Sport Ireland Targeted Equipment scheme, funded by the SCEP, for the provision of equipment to each club and county to support participation.
Funding is also provided by my Department for sports facilities under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The LSSIF is designed for projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the SCEP. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including an allocation to the IABA. Full details of the LSSIF including all allocations can be found at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.
In relation to ongoing governance issues in boxing, The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has recently published online its finalised Governance Review and its upcoming EGM on 10 July will provide the opportunity for the organisation and its members to affect meaningful and positive change in boxing. I would encourage them to accept and implement the recommendations of the review in full.
It is important to note that the Review is the IABA’s own review and was underpinned by a comprehensive consultation process. Many of the actions which it recommends are considered best practice. The implementation of recommendations would result in better governance, better engagement between grassroots clubs and high performance, greater diversity within the organisation, and improve the skillset available to the IABA to govern its sport. The IABA has the opportunity now to move forward and accept the review and its recommendations.
Delegates at the EGM will vote on a motion to create a new board which will be charged with implementing the recommendations of the Review.
If the review is accepted, there will be an immediate pathway for the IABA to make progress. However, if the IABA does not accept the review, there will be immediate financial consequences and they will be disallowed from future funding streams. This will be to the detriment of boxing and will, unfortunately, hinder them from reaching their potential as an organisation.
If the IABA accepts the review Sport Ireland will work with the IABA to develop an implementation plan for the 64 recommendations in the review within three months. Sport Ireland stands ready to support the IABA in this; they will assist with the necessary resources and will ensure that progress is monitored, overseen and reported to Sport Ireland on a monthly basis.
I hope that every effort will be made by the IABA to ensure acceptance of its own Review and I would encourage all of those involved in boxing, from the grassroots of the clubs to the county, provincial and national committee rooms, to encourage acceptance of the motion.
