FIS and ISC united in cabinet hope

THE Federation of Irish Sports (FIS) and Irish Sports Council (ISC) are holding out hope Taoiseach-in-waiting Enda Kenny will keep sport at the cabinet table when, as expected, he names his ministers later today.

The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism is expected to be dropped with tourism to be brought under the umbrella of transport.

With the Department of Finance set to be split by two ministers and only room for 15 ministries, sport might be reassigned to a junior position.

Such a move would raise questions about Fine Gael and Labour’s seriousness about sport, especially their support for the government grants for inter-county Gaelic players.

Both Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony and Labour’s Joan Burton have been strong advocates of the initiative but were sport to become less of a priority there would be reasonable fears for its future.

However, there are also rumours sport could become part of a new Department of Recreation, incorporating the community, equality and gaeltacht affairs brief. That recommendation was first made by Bord Snip chairman Colm McCarthy in 2009.

The FIS made representations to the incoming parties’ negotiating teams and there is an air of quiet optimism their concerns have registered with the parties.

“Sport has had a presence at the cabinet table since the late ‘90s and it’s no coincidence that there have been great strides in participation in sport and a greater consistency of performance on the international stage since then,” said FIS chief executive Sarah O’Connor.

“It’s vital to sport in Ireland that it continues to be represented by a senior minister. It ensures that sports policy is seen as a priority.’’

It’s an opinion shared by the ISC.

“There is little doubt that sport has benefited by having a voice at the cabinet table. The real hope is that will be retained,” said an ISC spokesperson.

“It would be great to see the core principles and policies about increased levels in participation and promoting sport’s value in health continue to be recognised.’’

Sport has also proven to reap financial dividends. A recent report claimed sport in Ireland supports 38,000 jobs, contributes 1.4% to GDP, stimulates €1.8b of household spending each year and is directly responsible for an annual overseas tourist spend of €200m.

However, O’Connor is realistic enough and aware sport is also in need of washing its own face. But to do so, a department’s assistance is vital.

“Like it was before the last two budgets, the overall priority is to maintain the current funding for sport, which is distributed by the Irish Sports Council. It’s that money which fed sport in the country. Bearing in mind the need for facilities, earmarking more money for sport from national lottery funding is something that should be pursued. As things stand, only 18% of proceeds go to sport.”

With sports capital programmes currently shelved, it’s in people whom the ISC are putting their money.

“We’re investing in the people who provide Irish sport along with the relevant governing bodies and all the different sports programmes and partnerships,” the ISC said.

“We would make a strong case that we need to maintain the funding because it’s not a question of turning the tap off and hoping you can turn it back on again.’’