Government announce €8.8m boost for Irish sport

SPORTS Minister John O’Donoghue last night announced funding of €8.8m to upgrade sports facilities and equipment nationwide.

The Minister said the monies will assist “in the identification and nurturing of young talent, in increasing participation in sport generally and in honing the competitive skills and abilities of our top competitors.”

Irish Sports Council Chief Executive John Treacy described the announcement as “great news for Irish sport.”

“The monies to the National Governing Bodies will be well spent. It is very positive and a perfect Christmas present. It covers a broad spectrum of sports and I am confident that it will achieve the objectives that the Minister hopes will be achieved,” he said.

The GAA is the chief benefactor with €3.5m for upgrading and development works at grounds in Connacht and Munster.

Pearse Stadium in Galway receives €1.5m, the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is to receive €1m, Markievicz Park, Sligo and Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium will get €0.4m while the Munster Council’s grounds in Charleville will receive €200,000.

The National Boxing Stadium will get €500,000 (bringing total funding since 1998 to €2.45m) and the National Indoor Tennis Centre at Glasnevin in Dublin €330,000.

“My Department is arranging for the issue of this additional funding to the organisations concerned in accordance with the normal legal, technical and administrative requirements of the Sports Capital Programme. It will augment funding previously allocated to these facilities thereby enabling the promoters to bridge significant funding gaps,” the Minister added.

A number of FAI Regional Development Centres have received funding with Salthill Devon set to get e1m, Mayo Soccer League, €0.1m and Bunclody AFC, Co. Wexford €0.4m.

Minister O’Donoghue added that his Department has also identified, in consultation with the Irish Sports Council and the relevant governing bodies, a need to provide specialised items of equipment necessary for the development of the sports concerned.

Half a million euro will go towards the Community Hoops and Regional Development programmes for Basketball Ireland incorporating the installation of further basketball hoops across the country and particularly concentrating on disadvantaged areas.

The Athletics Association of Ireland receives €210,000 for a range of electronic timing and measuring equipment, performance analysis systems, miscellaneous equipment for the indoor athletics arena at Nenagh and fundamental equipment kits for use nationwide.

The FAI will get €150,000 to go towards equipment to meet new safety standards and which will contribute in the implementation of the FAI’s Technical Plan particularly in the training and coaching of underage players.

The Irish Amateur Rowing Union (IARU) gains funding of €125,000 to purchase further equipment for their new ‘Dry Row’ initiative promoting rowing in schools and also towards specialised boats and equipment for high performance rowers.

These additional allocations will enhance the stock of sporting facilities and equipment which are a key ingredient in the implementation of a successful and ambitious sport policy. The Minister expressed his satisfaction that we now have in place generously-funded programmes which are responsive to the sporting needs of our country and which are contributing to the build-up of a stock of modern well-managed sporting facilities nationwide.

Regional GAA Grounds: Pearse Stadium, Galway €1.5m; Limerick Gaelic Grounds €1m; Markievicz Park, Sligo €0.4m; Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney €0.4m; Munster Colleges Grounds, Charleville €0.2m.

FAI Regional Development Centres: Salthill Devon FC €1m; Mayo Soccer League €0.1m; Bunclody AFC, Co. Wexford €0.4m.

Regional athletics tracks: Castleisland €625,000; Irishtown Stadium €930,000; Lees Road Centre, Ennis €200,000 Duneske Leisure Centre, Cahir €200,000.

NGB Funding: €500,000 to the Community Hoops and Regional Development programmes for Basketball Ireland; €210,000 to the Athletics Association of Ireland; €150,000 to the FAI Technical Plan; €125,000 to the Irish Amateur Rowing Union (IARU).

National facilities: National Boxing Stadium €500,000. National Indoor Tennis Centre €330,000.