Sports stars in Budget appeal to Government

Some of Ireland's biggest sporting names today pleaded with the Government to spare sports funding in what is widely expected to be a difficult Budget for the country.

In a submission made on behalf of everyone involved in Irish sport, the national sporting organisations pointed out the damage that will be done to sport in Ireland if Government was to make drastic cuts in the current level of sports funding.

National heroes Katie Taylor, Paul O'Connell and Lar Corbett were amongst those hoping their message to government would be heard.

Last year a total of €49.6m in taxpayer's money was invested in the development of all Irish sport.

Joining today in making the submission are the GAA, FAI, IRFU, GUI, Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympics Council, Special Olympics Ireland and the Federation of Irish Sports (FIS) which represents the governing body of 68 sports in Ireland. All of the sports represented by the FIS have given full backing to the submission.

The submission to Government was presented to the Minister for Sport, Ms Mary Hanafin, earlier today by a delegation of sportsmen and sportswomen.

Representing Ireland's sporting community were O'Connell (Rugby), Corbett (Hurling), Taylor (Boxing), Stephen Rice (Soccer), Andrew Bree (Swimming), Claire O'Connor (Camogie), Garrett Culliton (Paralympics) and Robert Deegan (Special Olympics).

In an open letter to Government, the governing bodies make the point that this is about "the positive effects of sport at every level not just to elite participants important as they are to us all. What other aspect of life in Ireland gets 270,000 people to volunteer their time on a weekly basis to ensure that 1.7 million people participate in sport in 12,000 clubs in every parish in Ireland".

"It would be difficult to over emphasise just how important the impact of €49.6m given to sport through the Irish Sports Council. It is the seed capital for activity and an industry worth in excess of €1.8bn to Ireland each year.

"It must be remembered that only a small proportion of the Government funding goes to elite performers. Over 80% of the money provided by the Government is invested in sport at grassroots level in creating the programmes that will produce top class athletes and just as importantly help improve the health and well being of our citizens".

The submission also makes the point that for every euro invested by the Government, the sports themselves invest a further €2. It notes that recent research found that for every €100 invested by Government (both national and local), the return to the Exchequer is €149.