Partnerships to boost local sport

ON WHAT was described by chief executive John Treacy as a proud day for the Irish Sports Council (ISC) the completion of the National Network of Sport Partnerships was announced at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham yesterday.

The concept of the partnerships is that locally-based entities are required to help develop sport in the community. They bring together education, local government, sports interests and health authorities with the intention of maximising the impact of investment in sport at local level.

The Irish Sports Council will invest a total of €5.675million in the network in this year alone and the other main sources of investment comes from local authorities, POBAL (from the Dormant Accounts Fund), the National Action Plan Against Racism and the Health Service Executive.

Of the 33 Sports Partnerships now in existence, 20 will operate under the County Development Board and Local Authority structure with 13 operating as companies limited by guarantee.

“Today is a proud day for the Council as our vision of a National Network of Sports Partnerships is finally realised,” Treacy said.

“The partnerships have been endorsed in every analysis of their work. They are new agencies that are making a significant impact on sport and will continue to grow in influence and impact over the coming years.”

In 2005 the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism commissioned a report into the partnerships, which ultimately endorsed the partnership concept and made a series of recommendations to maximise the impact of the national roll-out of the programme.

The ISC has implemented all relevant recommendations including the critical one, the introduction of an evaluation framework, namely the SPEAK (Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Knowledge Networking) Report.

SPEAK is a self-evaluation system which leads to a comprehensive understanding of the work of the organisation and the impact of that work.

The first report, published yesterday, is based on information provided by the 22 partnerships that existed in 2007.

The investment from POBAL in the partnerships is significant in that it funds the employment of 20 Sport Inclusion Development Officers around the country. Their work will focus on increasing participation of people with disabilities in sport and physical activity and promote inclusion in mainstream activities.

According to the SPEAK report the main impact of the partnerships is in their role as a hub for sport at local level.

They provide information, advice and support to the local sports sector as well as providing training and education.

In addition the partnerships have a critical role in rolling out ISC national programmes such as Buntús, Buntús Start, Active Leadership, Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport, Go for Life and initiatives for specific groups such as Women in Sport,

Ossie Kilkenny, Chairman of the ISC, said they had set ambitious targets for increasing participation in sport and physical activity over the next few years.

“The sports partnerships are critical in reaching these targets as they are the delivery mechanism for our various programmes aimed at addressing specific needs in the sports system,” he said.

Sports Minister Seamus Brennan said the partnerships were making a major contribution to the sport sector in Ireland and the completion of the national network must be warmly welcomed.

“Their essential work is in increasing participation amongst those sectors of society that are under represented in sport. It will make a major contribution to the health and welfare of individuals, communities and the nation,” he said.

He added that sport, especially at local community level, could be one of the most effective antidotes to many of those social ills and attitudes.

“It can transform lives, transcend borders and nationalities, bring people together, raise aspirations and build long and enduring friendships,” he said.