Sep 20, 2023
Our #1 Ask of government in Budget 2024 is an Increase in Core Funding. As part of our Pre-Budget campaign to highlight why #SportMatters, we caught up with our member CEOs from Swim Ireland, Rowing Ireland, Volleyball Ireland, Canoeing Ireland, Badminton Ireland and Basketball Ireland to hear why core funding is crucial to running their sporting organisations.
First up we hear from Swim Ireland CEO, Sarah Keane.
Federation Pre-Budget Submission: Our key request is that the government continues to demonstrate its commitment to the National Sports Policy. The government has committed to doubling funding to sport over the ten-year life of that policy and much has been achieved by what has been done to date. The reality is that the upcoming budget will be looking at funding for Year Seven of that ten-year National Sports Policy.
It has always been the contention of the Federation of Irish Sport that it is essential that the government’s commitment to doubling sports funding (over the ten-year life of the NSP) should be done incrementally,
on an annual basis. Multi-annual funding commitments are essential to create certainty for the NGB’s and LSP’s, to allow them to plan strategically; maintain adequate staffing levels and staff certainty; and most importantly deliver on their objectives. The NGBs and LSPs are essential components for delivering on Government’s commitments and ambitions in relation to sport and physical exercise.
Sep 14, 2023
Federation points to impact of inflation on government funding for sport and for delivery of National Sports Policy
• Submission highlight’s sport’s contribution to economy – 64,000 jobs and a €3.7 billion GVA contribution to economy
• Submission highlights detailed Tax Reform Report already gone to government showing how Action 3.7 of Sports Action Plan can benefit all sports
• FIS calls on Government to raise Betting tax and earmark extra revenue for sport to help tackle betting addiction
• Need to Accelerate reform of insurance costs in relation to sport
On Wednesday, 13th September, the Federation of Irish Sport delivered its Pre-Budget Submission to the government. Their submission identifies four “Key Asks” which it is asking to be taken into consideration in the development of Budget 2024. As was the case last year the Federation also suggests how some relatively simple changes in taxation policy could make a major difference for sport and physical activity.
At the core of the submission is an appeal to government to continue to demonstrate its commitment to the National Sports Policy by increasing core funding for member NGBs and LSPs in line with its stated ambition to double the level of overall sports funding over the life of the National Sports Policy.
The submission highlights that “a combination of inflation and the need to invest ever more funds in such vital areas such as governance, child protection, GDPR etc., has had an impact on the funding available for their essential work of the NGBs and LSPs in bringing more people into sport. Their investment into people and programmes must be protected if we are to continue to enjoy the successes of recent years both in participation levels and high performance”.
In tandem with this they again ask government to move to a multi-annual system of core funding for sport and physical activity by confirming the annual increase in funding in line with the National Sports Policy – thereby giving the NGBs and LSPs the opportunity to plan ahead. It notes that this is particularly important if Ireland is to retain its best people across the sporting spectrum.
Overall, the FIS Pre-Budget Submission highlights the urgent need for on-going support of the sector that today supports 64,000 jobs is worth over €3.7bn (GVA) to the Irish Economy.
The Federations second main “ASK” of government concerns making a number of changes in current taxation policy. Action 3.7 of the Sports Policy action plan 2021-2023 contains a number of tax expenditure reforms which at their core seek to help make sporting organisations become more self-sustainable and less reliant on government.
The Federation of Irish Sport was given responsibility to drive this action and they enlisted the support of A&L Goodbody to produce a detailed report on the subject. This Report, which is highlighted in the Federation’s Submission has been with government since August 2022.
Among the recommendations of the Report are –
• Extending relief on donations to approved sporting bodies.
• VAT relief for sporting bodies.
• Granting of charitable status to those NGBs and LSPs who wish to pursue that option.
• Tax-driven incentives for personal exercise.
The Report contains detailed proposals on all areas of taxation that might be relatively easily changed to benefit sport and ultimately the health of the nation. In its third “ASK” the Federation suggests that the government increase the Betting Tax from 2% to 3% with the additional monies raised be devoted to sport and also to how sport might be targeted at tackling the problems of gambling addiction.
The Federation’s final ask of Government, is that they look closely at insurance reform. Insurance Reforms are needed that will quickly reduce liability premiums to affordable levels. These reforms have been identified but they are not happening fast enough and are consequently negatively impacting the sports sector and its ability to providing sporting facilities and host sporting events.
Speaking on the launch of the Pre-Budget Submission Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said; “It is vital that the NGBs and the LSPs have continuing access to the funding necessary to facilitate the achievement of the aims of the National Sports Policy as well as their own strategic objectives, we have said on many occasions it is equally important that the government commits to such funding on a multi-annual basis if we are to realise the potential of all funding and make impactful and sustainable interventions.
“What we are proposing here today are achievable means by which the Government can immediately boost the sports sector at no extra cost to the exchequer.”
Click here to read the submission in full.
Feb 8, 2023
Due to extra demand we are delighted to extend the nomination process until this Friday 10th February at 12:00pm. Go to https://volunteersinsport.ie/make-a-nomination/ to submit your nomination today! The 2022 Volunteers in Sport Awards are brought to you by the Federation of Irish Sport and the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships.
Dec 12, 2022
‘Give the gift of nominating a standout volunteer in your club’
12th December 2022: The Federation of Irish Sport today announced the launch of the 2022 Volunteers in Sports Awards. The county awards will return to an in-person awards ceremony, recognising the army of volunteers who make sport happen in communities, in every county across the country. Nominations are now open at www.volunteersinsport.ie. The awards are #DedicatedtotheDedicated.
The 2022 awards will be celebrated in the Greater Dublin Area at the beginning of March 2023. Nominations are open from Monday 12th December via the dedicated awards website. Entries will close on the 25th January 2023. Nominations received will be shortlisted and put forward for consideration by the Judging Panel. Winners are chosen on a county basis, with 32 award recipients and one overall Outstanding Volunteer Award.
Volunteers are the cornerstone of sporting activities in clubs and communities nationwide. Unpaid, they give freely of their time, energy and are dedicated to the development of their chosen sport. Over 450,000 volunteers are needed on a weekly basis to run club activities, giving on average 3½ hours per week. The estimated economic value of volunteering in sport and physical activity is worth €1.5bn. Without them sports clubs would not exist.
Commenting on the announcement Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, TD said, “It’s an honour to be part of the launch of these national awards, recognising the many volunteers who are the backbone of local sports clubs in every community across the country. They are responsible for making sure weekly training sessions take place, managing teams, organising inter-club matches, ensuring pitches, courts and clubhouses are kept operational most importantly bringing communities together through sport. Last year’s winners represented a wide variety of sports and all ages of volunteers. I would encourage all club members to reflect on who they know in their club that has made a difference and had a positive impact in their community through their dedication to their sport.”
Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport said, “I am delighted to launch the return of the Volunteers in Sport Industry Awards. While the awards were successfully hosted online for the last two years due to the pandemic, nothing beats the warmth and connectivity of gathering in-person to recognise the selfless work being done by volunteers behind the scenes at clubs and sporting organisations. There is a strong sense of volunteerism in sport in Ireland. We had been on track to reach the 2027 target of 55% for social participation, club membership or attendance at a sporting event. However, Covid has impacted this and we need to encourage more participation and volunteering to get back on track to reach this target. Shining a light on our volunteers in sport is a way to recognise and remind people of the invaluable role they play in society.”
Also present at the launch the of the awards was the 2020 Co. Kildare recipient Tom Egan of Salmon Leap Canoe Club and his daughter Irish Canoeist Jenny Egan a multiple World Championship and European Medallist and Multiple World Cup Medallist and currently ranked World No. 1.
To keep up to date with all the latest announcements visit www.volunteersinsport.ie and follow @iresport on twitter and on LinkedIn
#DedicatedtoheDedicated
Jun 2, 2022
This year the Federation of Irish Sport hosted the return of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce at The Westin Hotel on May 17th. We are delighted to share with you a flavour of the awards night and this special gathering of the sports sector.
The Federation of Irish Sport comprises 81 National Governing Bodies and 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Representing over 70 different sports, ranging from mass participation to niche sporting activities, our members also include multi-sport organisations such as the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Community Games, Vision Sports Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association Sport, Triathlon Ireland, Deaf Sports Ireland, CARA Sport, Student Sport Ireland, Ireland Active and Pentathlon Ireland.
As The Voice of Irish Sport, one of our key goals is to promote the multifaceted benefits of participation in sport and physical activity. The annual Irish Sport Industry Awards provides a platform for us to celebrate the economic value of sport to the country. The awards also recognise those contributing across the sports industry from governing bodes, sports partnerships, rights holders, sponsors, PR agencies, media, key stakeholders to those in the business of sport. We’re already excited about next year’s event!
