More cuts will have huge impact, warns sports body

The successes of Katie Taylor, Rory McIlroy, Sycerika McMahon and Cian O’Connor could become a distant memory, and sport’s potential to breathe new life into the Irish economy will be unrealised, if there are any further cuts to funding after the upcoming budget.

That is the stark claim of the Federation of Sports’ annual review, which also warns that any ban on sponsorship by alcohol companies will cause “serious damage” in terms of grassroots coaching and subsequent international success.

These points are emphasised in the Federation’s pre-budget submission, which also seeks changes to tax relief on donations to approved sports development programmes, which would encourage increased philanthropic contributions. Government funding of sport is due to be cut by 5% next month but that needs to be the last reduction if sport is to flourish, says the report.