‘Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity’

Dear Member,

We appreciate that this is a hugely difficult time for all our members and we’re continuing to talk to as many of you as possible to get a fuller picture about the impact coronavirus (COVID-19) is having.

We recognise that the current crisis has had a major impact on our members, Our members are responsible for the people and the programmes that ensure Irish Sport and Physical Activity operates at every level from, grassroots to High Performance, from children in summer camps to Olympic/Paralympic competitors. You are the bodies that will need to be there when this crisis passes, as it will, and organised sport will perhaps be more important than it has ever been before in this country.

We have been in discussions with Sport Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on your behalf and following research with our members and collation of the answers we have made a written submission to Minister of State Brendan Griffin and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Sport Ireland.

During these challenging and changing times myself and the Federation team are on hand to assist you, our members, through the next number of weeks and months. We will do this in a variety of ways but chief among them will be the sharing of timely, accurate and useful information. However, if any of you have specific questions, please contact us on any of the numbers below.

Mary O’Connor, CEO – 0860437884
Sinead Conroy, Business Manager – 0860437887

This is the first of a series of helpful information e-zines that will provide both essential government information relevant to your organisation as well as support offerings and innovative opportunities that may arise.
Please keep an eye for further information emails over the coming weeks.

Finally, I would ask you to adhere to government guidelines and advice in relation to tackling this pandemic and remember, we are in this together and must ‘always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity’

Stay safe, stay well.

Yours sincerely,

Mary O’Connor
CEO Federation of Irish Sport

Dept of Business, Enterprise and Innovation

  • The government has announced a National COVID-19 Income Support Scheme. This will provide financial support to Irish workers and businesses affected by the crisis.
  • If you have concerns about your ability to pay your tax liabilities speak to the Revenue Commissioners, who have advised: “On an on-going basis, Revenue engages with viable businesses experiencing temporary cash flow or trading difficulties that affect the timely payment of tax. Revenue works very successfully with businesses that engage early to resolve their tax payment difficulties. Revenue will engage with any viable business thatexperiences temporary cashflow difficulties, including difficulties arising from exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.”

https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/Government-supports-to-COVID-19-impacted-businesses.html

Dept of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

  • A number of income supports are available from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for your employees during a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) related absence or temporary lay-off from work:
    – Employees and the self-employed who have lost employment due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
    – Workers who are not diagnosed with COVID-19 but who self-isolate
    – Workers whose employers do not supplement/top-up the State Illness Benefit payment (COVID-19)
    – Workers who are requested to stay at home by their employer (COVID-19)
    – Workers who are laid off temporarily or put on to short time working (COVID-19)]
    – Workers who need to take time off work to care for a person affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/4cf0e2-covid-19-coronavirus-information-for-employers-and-employees-test/

Dept of Finance

  • Extensive supports for SME customers – banks are working to ensure a wide range of credit, cash flow and supply chain supports are offered to businesses who are trying to manage the pressures arising from COVID-19. A deferral of up to 3-months on loan repayments will be of assistance to many businesses
  • If you need to place your employees on a shorter working week or have had to cut their hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, your employees can apply for Short Time Work Support.

https://www.gov.ie/en/news/878d4d-wednesdminister-donohoe-outlines-further-measures-to-support-individ/

Department of Health

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/

Department of Tourism Transport and Sport

  • WHO has declared CoVid-19 as a pandemic and all sport has been suspended.
  • Government enforces restrictions on groups of 4 people

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/df4112-coronavirus-facts-symptoms-and-prevention/

Department of Rural and Community Development plan can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/70be56-government-action-plan-for-community-response-to-covid-19/

Sports Capital Funding

  • As resources are diverted in response to the challenge posed to the nation by COVID-19 the level of service provided may be affected.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/

FAQ’s for Employers and Employees in relation to Home-Working on a temporary basis (COVID-19)
https://www.hsa.ie/eng/news_events_media/news/news_and_articles/faq%E2%80%99s_for_employers_and_employees_in_relation_to_home-working_on_a_temporary_basis_covid-19_.html

Insurance
As members of the Alliance for Insurance we recommend you follow their work in relation to insurance matters impacted by COVID-19. You will find updates on their work at https://insurancereform.ie/ or on twitter @InsuranceRefIre

CRO
https://www.cro.ie/About-CRO/Latest-News/ArtMID/1567/ArticleID/1407/Update-Regarding-Filing-of-Annual-Returns

Key Updates
Here are some important additions, resources and updates for you:
www.merrionstreet.ie –  The Government has announced a National Covid-19 Income Support Scheme to provide financial support to Irish workers and companies and effected by the crisis. Other measures relevant to all citizens (including sporting events) are announced there.

www.hse.ie – More than 60,000 applications were made to the HSE’s recruitment drive for staff to join the fight against Covid-19. This may be a useful message to spread to the sporting community to encourage the passing on of that information to medical practitioners within its ranks.

www.health.gov.ie – The Department of Health information in relation to Covid-19 can be accessed through their website.

www.dbei.gov.ie – Information on measures including Microfinance Ireland Covid-19 Loan could be relevant to NGBs and clubs.

www.who.int – Up to date international Covid-19 information can be sourced from the World Health Organisation website.

www.garda.ie – The news section has links to the HSE guidelines and information on social distancing.

Resources