ISC chiefs digesting ‘painful’ cut recommendations

OFFICIALS at the Irish Sports Council (ISC) were last night digesting An Bord Snip’s “painful” recommendation that the body’s grant be shaved by €7.7 million, a figure which accounts for roughly 30% of its annual budget.

Such a reduction, were it to be approved by the government, would have huge ramifications for sport up and down the island, from athletes at Olympic level right down to grass roots programmes.

The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes has also suggested that the Horse and Greyhound Fund’s allocation be cut by €16.4m, which also amounts to just under a third of their current figure.