Budget 2021 a 'watershed moment' as Irish sport suffers losses of 70%

Over 10% of Irish swimming pools have closed permanently, an Oireachtas committee heard

Mary O'Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, outlining the financial hardship facing many of the sports organisations because of the lack of activity this year. Photo: Oireachtas TV/PA Wire

Budget 2021 will mark a "watershed moment" for Irish sport after a year in which governing bodies have experienced losses of up to 70% of their self-generated income.

Mary O'Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, gave evidence to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, and the Gaeltacht on Wednesday, where she warned that any failure to increase government funding could create an "insurmountable gap" to meet the National Sports Policy target of doubling investment in sport to €220m by 2027.