The IABA welcomes the allocation to it of €510,000 by Sport Ireland in Covid Grant Scheme funding.
The monies are part of a pan-NGB package of grants and supports, worth almost €80 million.
Nationally, €73.6m in Covid funding is being allocated under five separate streams to help sports organisations to recover and grow post pandemic, support our grassroots network of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.
A further €5.3m is being provided to sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) for the provision of sports equipment including the roll out of defibrillators for clubs, kits for school children and state of the art equipment for our high-performance athletes.
IABA Allocation
€60,000 under Scheme Two – NGB Resilience Fund. Sport Ireland says this fund may “cover the loss of income from events, ticket sales, sponsorship, affiliation & membership fees, courses, services and the additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols. It is acknowledged that indoor sports and Governing Bodies who are more reliant on commercial activity and have more diverse streams of income will require greater support.”
€400,000 under Scheme Three – Club Resilience Fund. Sport Ireland notes “A large number of the challenges faced by Governing Bodies are replicated across their Club network with income from affiliation & membership fees, events, competition, coaching courses and ancillary services all reduced. The additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols has also had a significant impact on Club activities where the sharing of equipment, facilities and resources is common place. In addition, there are a number of Governing Bodies whose network of Clubs consist of commercial organisations operating out of dedicated facilities with full time staff and strong annual turnovers. Such organisations are more reliant on membership, competition and coaching revenues as well as income from ancillary sporting and non-sporting commercial activity. Sport Ireland will not fund Clubs, Affiliates, Provinces or Branches directly and funding will be accessed through programmes established by the Governing Body.
€50,000 under Scheme Five – Resumption of Sport & Physical Activity. Sport Ireland says this is a “Restart Fund to support the return of sport and physical activity…The Scheme seeks to support a number of key focus areas
- A Disability Sport Fund
- Older Adults Support
- Third Level Education Support
- NGB Grassroots & Indoor Sport Support
- LSP Small Grant Scheme
- LSP Grassroots Sport Support
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said: “As a nation so fond of sports, we are very supportive of our clubs, our competitors and of course everyone who enjoys physical activity. But the last two years have been two of the most challenging for all sports organisations and the announcement of this funding will come as a relief for the sports sector. It’s important that the sport sector is on a firm financial footing. The additional funding, coupled with the increase in the budget for sport in 2022, will ensure the long-term viability of our sports organisations, high performance sport and will make sure sport remains accessible to all. These emergency funds will reach all corners of the country, a myriad of activities and ensure clubs and grassroots groups continue their great work.”
Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs Jack Chambers TD, added: “I welcome today’s allocations announced by Sport Ireland, which recognise the immense contribution that sport and physical activity has made to Ireland’s response to the pandemic. All facets of society continue to adjust as the public health situation evolves and our National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnership and sports clubs are to be commended on how they have adapted. Government understands that this has been challenging for all and the funding allocated today will assist the sector as it continues to play an important role in supporting all members of society getting and staying active.”