Oct 8, 2025
Press Release
For Immediate Release
8 October 2025
Federation of Irish Sport Welcomes Positive Commitments to Sport in Budget 2026
The Federation of Irish Sport has welcomed the commitments announced in Budget 2026 towards the ongoing development of sport and physical activity across Ireland.
The increased investment in core funding, high-performance programmes, and sports facility development represents a clear and positive signal of Ireland’s ambition to support and nurture sporting talent at every level — from grassroots community clubs to elite international competition.
Speaking following the Budget announcement, Federation CEO Mary O’Connor said:
“This Budget sends a strong message that sport, and physical activity remain a national priority. These targeted investments will allow the sector to build on momentum, while continuing to deliver opportunities for participation, inclusion, and excellence throughout Ireland.”
“These investments are not just numbers on a page. They represent opportunities — for children to join their first team, for athletes to chase international dreams, and for communities to thrive through sport. We look forward to working together to ensure every euro invested strengthens the foundations of Irish sport for generations to come.”
The Federation extends its sincere thanks to Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue for their leadership, ongoing support, and commitment to recognising the unique role of sport and physical activity in Irish society.
“The Ministers’ support, both in public advocacy and in yesterday’s funding allocations, underscores the Government’s understanding that sport is not just about medals and trophies — it’s about wellbeing, community building, social cohesion, and economic contribution,” Mary O’Connor added.
Looking ahead, the Federation expressed its commitment to working closely with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Sport Ireland, National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships, and all funded organisations to ensure that this investment delivers real, measurable impact.
ENDS
For interview requests, please contact:
Michelle McCarthy
Operations Manager Federation of Irish Sport
email: michelle.mccarthy@irishsport.ie , mobile: 0860684925, website: www.irishsport.ie
Notes to Editors:
Key Investments Announced in Budget 2026 Include:
- €10.8 million in additional current funding for Sport Ireland, including:
- €2 million in increased core funding for National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships
- €500,000 to support Sport Ireland’s work on sports legacy programmes and events
- €1.5 million increase in High Performance funding, as part of preparations for Los Angeles 2028, in line with Programme for Government commitments
- €500,000 investment in a grassroots golf participation programme, forming part of the legacy strategy for major international golf events, including the Ryder Cup.
- National Velodrome and Badminton Centre to commence construction.
- Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) annual allocation increased by €18.7m, to support the development of world-class sports facilities nationwide.
- Targeted funding for specific sports and athlete support, including:
- GAA:
- €250,000 in enhanced core funding
- Just under €750,000 to expand hurling in non-traditional areas.
- €1.6 million in additional support for inter-county players
- IRFU:
- €250,000 in enhanced core funding
- €500,000 to support the development of high-performance pathways for women rugby players.
- FAI:
- €3 million to support the development of League of Ireland football academies.
About the Federation of Irish Sport
The Federation of Irish Sport was established in April 2002 by Ireland’s national sporting organisations to provide leadership, coordination, and advocacy on key issues, representing their interests to the government and relevant agencies. Now in its 23rd year, the Federation represents over 110 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), representing more than 13,000 sports clubs across Ireland.
The Federation’s mission is to empower its members to maximise the impact of sport, recreation, and physical activity for the benefit of society. Sport is not only essential for Ireland’s health and wellbeing but also contributes significantly to the economy, education, tourism, and the nation’s global reputation.
Sep 2, 2025
The Federation of Irish Sport is calling for:
- A 10% Compound Annual Increase in Core Funding Over Next 3 Years
- Commitment To Research and Report on the Impact of an Additional 1% Betting Levy for Sport
The Federation of Irish Sport, the voice of Irish sport today called for a decisive Budget 2026 commitment from Government to secure the role of sport in Ireland as a driver of health, community, and economic growth.
In its 2026 Pre-Budget submission, the Federation of set out the case for sustainable investment to safeguard and grow the sector. The primary Ask of Government is for a 10% Compound Increase in Core Funding from 2025-2028. The National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) are the engines of citizens’ engagement with and continued participation in sport. A multi-annual increase in Core Funding will provide stability and financial clarity for NGBs and LSPs to plan for long term development. This will have a direct impact on improving public health and wellbeing and foster social inclusion, while also driving economic growth and increased tax revenues.
The second key Ask for Sport in Budget 2026 is for a government commitment to research and publish a report on an additional 1% betting levy for sport. The creation of an additional 1% levy would yield approximately €40-50 million extra per annum for sports. The Federation is calling on Government to undertake a formal assessment of the proposed additional 1% levy, with a view to designating the additional revenue specifically for participation and community sport.
Click
here for the full submission.
Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport said: “The Government has the power to make a meaningful impact on the sports sector in Ireland by recognising Sport’s social, health, and economic value and to prioritise core funding for long term impact. Return on investment is clear: for every €100 invested in sport the return is €209. While investment by Government in Sport and Physical Activity has increased significantly over the lifetime of the National Sports Policy, it is time for sport funding in Ireland to be in line with our European counterparts and match the EU average. With the current National Sports Policy in its final two years, we want Government to recognise Sport as a public good within national policy going forwards. Backing sport means backing communities all over the country.”
Who we represent:
Sep 1, 2025
The Federation of Irish Sport is proud to support this four-part webinar series presented by MyWaste with practical tips for clubs from the GAA, IRFU and FAI.
- Free MyWaste webinar series this September to help all sports clubs adopt sustainable waste management practices, backed by leading sporting bodies.
- Each session will deliver core waste management content, illustrated with successful examples from GAA, IRFU & FAI clubs, and the wider sports sector, offering practical advice and expert insights applicable to any club.
- To register for the MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit webinar series visit www.mywaste.ie
MyWaste.ie, Ireland’s official guide to managing your waste, today announced a free, four-part webinar series designed to equip sports clubs nationwide with the knowledge and tools to implement sustainable waste management practices. The MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit webinar series, supported by The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the-Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Federation of Irish Sport, will provide practical advice and insights from experts, empowering clubs to reduce their environmental footprint and foster a greener Ireland.
Minister of State for Small Business and Retail & Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, T.D. praised the initiative, stating; “The MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit has already provided a clear roadmap for sustainability, and now, with this accessible webinar series, we are truly bringing that guidance to life for thousands of clubs nationwide. These sessions are a crucial step in empowering sports organisations across Ireland to embrace circular economy principles, reduce waste, and build a more sustainable future for their communities and for Irish sport as a whole. Local sports clubs are in a unique position to reach people from all backgrounds at a grassroots level.”
“We are thrilled to launch this webinar series, offering direct support and practical solutions to sports clubs across Ireland,” said Sinéad Ni Mhainnin, Regional Waste Management Planning Office. “This initiative brings the MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit directly to every corner of Ireland’s sporting community. While each session will feature specific examples from different sporting codes, the core principles and actionable strategies are universal, making these webinars valuable for any club looking to enhance its environmental practices. We believe these webinars will be a game-changer in empowering clubs to positively contribute to good environment practices and Irelands transition to a circular economy.”
More than just a guide, the MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit is a dynamic resource offering comprehensive, actionable strategies for clubs to transform their waste management. It provides practical advice on everything from waste auditing and prevention to effective segregation and reuse initiatives, empowering clubs to eliminate single-use plastics, promote gear swapping, and track their unique sustainability journey.
“Since implementing the MyWaste Sports Club Toolkit, we’ve seen a significant reduction in our waste output and a noticeable improvement in our club’s environmental practices,” said Karen Kenna at Cappagh GAA Club, Co. Kildare. “The resources are incredibly practical and easy to follow, and it’s made a real difference to our community and our bottom line. We highly recommend it to any club looking to become more sustainable.”
Webinar Series Details:
Each episode of this webinar series will explore key sustainability practices, using examples and insights from various sporting codes. While specific examples will be highlighted, the practical advice shared is applicable to all sporting organisations. Each session will run from 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM on Tuesday evenings in September 2025:
· September 9th: Core waste management guidance, illustrated with diverse examples from across the entire Irish sporting landscape.
· September 16th: Core waste management guidance, with a specific focus on examples and successful initiatives from GAA clubs.
· September 23rd: Core waste management guidance, highlighting practical applications and achievements from FAI clubs.
· September 30th: Core waste management guidance, featuring insights and case studies from IRFU clubs.
“The FAI is committed to fostering environmental responsibility within football,” added Des Thompson, Football Association of Ireland’s Social and Environmental Sustainability Manager. “We are thrilled about the MyWaste webinar series, especially the session highlighting FAI clubs. This provides an invaluable, direct channel to share practical waste solutions with our vast network of clubs, ensuring that sustainability becomes a core part of every football community in Ireland.”
“The GAA is delighted to champion the MyWaste webinar series,” stated Jimmy D’Arcy, Youth Leadership & Sustainability Manager at GAA. “These webinars offer an excellent, accessible platform for all GAA clubs to deepen their understanding of waste management and accelerate their journey towards becoming greener. We strongly encourage every club to participate and leverage this fantastic opportunity to make a significant positive impact on their local environment.”
David Keane, National Rugby Development Manager at the Irish Rugby Football Union, commented; “The IRFU is delighted to actively support the MyWaste webinar series. This initiative is a brilliant way to extend crucial sustainability knowledge directly to our rugby clubs, helping them implement effective waste management practices. We are excited for our clubs to engage with these sessions and contribute to a greener, more responsible sporting landscape across Ireland.”
“The Federation is immensely proud to support the MyWaste webinar series,” said Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport. “This initiative is vital for reaching and empowering sports clubs across every discipline and region of Ireland. By providing direct access to expert guidance and practical tools, these webinars will significantly advance our collective goal of building a more sustainable and environmentally conscious sporting sector nationwide.”
Jul 10, 2025
In response to reports by RTE, the Alliance for Insurance Reform warmly welcomes the decision not to introduce the proposed 17% increase in personal injury awards.
Last year the Judicial Council performed an independent assessment of the Personal Injury Guidelines and made recommendations to the Minister for Justice in accordance with the relevant legislation in January 2025. However, the decision as to whether these recommendations are accepted is a matter for the legislature, which must be cognisant of a myriad of other policy considerations; including rising premiums, existing award levels that are significantly higher than in other jurisdictions and the potentially adverse impact upward reviews every three years will have on the effective functioning of the Injuries Resolution Board.
The Alliance hope a satisfactory revised process will be introduced to ensure the system of administering personal injury awards can deliver fair settlements to claimants and affordable insurance for policyholders.
The government has made this decision not for the benefit of insurance companies but for policyholders. In terms of liability insurance for businesses, sports, community and voluntary groups we have seen substantial decreases in the volume of claims and the size of awards. It is unconscionable that insurers have chosen not to pass on savings to customers, choosing instead to prioritise profits over their policyholders. All appropriate pressure must be brought to bear on them by our elected representatives and we look forward to seeing how the next action plan for insurance reform will address this key issue.
This was a grassroots campaign by local business, sports, community and voluntary organisations who were deeply concerned at the proposed increase in the context of ongoing cost of doing businesses challenges and wrote in their hundreds to government ministers expressing their concerns. It is important, and very welcome, that these concerns were listened to.
The Federation of Irish Sport is a proud member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform which brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 614,000 volunteers and 374,000 students in highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way.
Jun 25, 2025
· Alliance releases 2025 Insurance Survey Findings:
o Premiums continue to rise
o Lack of trust in insurers and the legal profession
o No support for increasing awards
o Consumers yet to benefit from the reforms.
· “Government risks being seen as ‘completely out of touch’ if it approves an increase in personal injury awards that will see insurance premiums skyrocket – do they not know people just can’t afford it”
Today the Alliance for Insurance Reform publishes the findings of a significant survey it undertook with small and medium businesses, sports, community and voluntary groups in respect of their liability insurance cover in recent months. It received a very substantial 775 responses, and the findings are striking:
· Almost three quarters of respondents have seen their premium rise in the last two years, notwithstanding recent government reforms. It should also be noted that these increases are occurring at a time when the volume of claims is reducing, awards are coming down and insurance companies are making record profits.[1]
· One in five organisations have only one underwriter willing to provide insurance cover. This is a perilous state for them to be in, and we need to see rapid delivery of the government’s commitments to increase competition in the liability insurance market.
· 90% of respondents said they have not benefited from the government’s action plan on insurance reform. The last government undertook an extensive programme of reform, and it must be galling for them to see the benefits of these reforms not being shared with policyholders.
· 67% of policyholders have seen added exclusions, increased excesses or both in recent years. This essentially means people are now paying more and getting less.
· 76% of respondents said they have not had a claim in the past 2 years.
· Four out of five people believed claims were unnecessarily extended by the legal profession to increase their fees. We know from a recent Central Bank report[2] that liability awards are the same on average whether a claimant settles at the Injuries Resolution Board or via litigation. It is therefore astonishing that almost 70% of claims (equating to almost 90% of the overall value of liability claims) continue to be settled in litigation. This is an area that requires much greater examination.
· 95% of respondents did not believe insurers when they said they were passing on savings to customers.
· 93% of respondents said they did not believe it was appropriate or necessary for personal injury awards to be increased at this time. The Minister for Justice is currently poised to recommend a 17% increase in awards to Cabinet in the coming weeks, notwithstanding the fact that awards in Ireland are higher than virtually anywhere else, and he is about to do so in the context of ever rising insurance premiums. It is obvious to everyone what will happen to premiums if this increase goes ahead.
Speaking about today’s survey results grocery store owner and Alliance board member, Flora Crowe said: ‘the Government risks being seen as ‘completely out of touch’, if it approves an increase in awards that will see insurance premiums skyrocket – do they not know people just can’t afford it’.
‘It is only a few years ago that the Personal Injuries Commission found that awards here were 440% higher here than in England. The Personal Injury Guidelines brought them down a bit, but premiums have continued to go up. If they increase awards now, the Minister for Justice is guaranteeing that my premium goes up considerably. Motor insurance costs are certain to keep going up as well; I just don’t see how Ministers and TDs can support it.’
‘I run a small business like many other people, and the cost of business is already the biggest concern facing us and now the government looks set to make it worse. Where is the SME test in all of this? The increase will undo so much of the good work done on insurance reform by the last government. The findings in this survey couldn’t be clearer – I hope common sense will prevail, but I am very worried.’
The Alliance for Insurance Reform brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland including the Federation of Irish Sport, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 614,000 volunteers and 374,000 students in highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: contact@insurancereform.ie
1. Premium increase will not be limited to businesses, sports and community groups. Motorists will also see their premiums rise sharply in a market where premiums have been on an upward trend for at least 18 months. The Central Bank NCID report for the first half of 2024 showed a sharp rise in motor insurance premiums of 9% in just the first 6 months of last year. CSO data has tracked increases in the cost of car insurance every month since then.
2. The most recent NCID liability report from the Central Bank published in March 2025 found that premiums increased by 4% in 2023 and have increased by 17% since 2020, despite a range of government reforms. The liability market has also proven highly profitable for insurers, showing an operating profit of 13% in 2023 (2.5 times greater than international norms).
3. The same NCID liability report showed that average legal costs are less than €1,000 for cases finalised at the Injuries Board but over €23,000 once it enters into litigation, whilst awards for claimants were the same in either channel (also at €23,000). Almost 70% of cases settle in the litigation channel.
4. If we continually review upwards personal injury awards every three years and it takes two and a half years to settle a claim at the Injuries Board, claimants will simply hold on a few months and bring their case into litigation. Not only will awards increase but legal fees will increase the cost of claims exponentially.
5. The Alliance for Insurance Reform brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 614,000 volunteers and 374,000 students in highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way.
6. Please see below (and attached) infographic of today’s survey findings:
May 29, 2025
The Federation of Irish Sport hosted their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 22nd May which saw the addition of two new Board Directors, Brenda O’Donnell CEO Active Disability Ireland and Shane McArdle Coordinator Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership. The Chair thanked outgoing Board Member Graham Russell Head of Louth Sports for his 6 years of service.
Brenda has always worked and being involved in disability sport and physical activity, creating equal sporting and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. She is a graduate from the Institute of Technology Tralee, (now Munster Technological University) and in 2001 graduated with a BSc in Health, Fitness and Leisure Studies. Through her role Brenda aims to increase the profile of Active Disability Ireland, building on the strong foundations and its vital partnerships across the sport, disability, health and community sectors. She promises to continue the strong connections and relationships that have been established over the years with all of Active Disability Ireland’s funding and supporting partners. Working closely with all team members within Active Disability Ireland her role will focus on operational effectiveness aligned to the organisations strategy, continued leadership through example under good governance, continued Influencing and challenge of local and national policy and strengthened support of the creation of choice and opportunity through direct engagement with people with disabilities.
A graduate of both DIT Cathal Brugha Street and Smurfit Business School, Shane has been working in the sports and leisure industry for over 23 years in a variety of roles and sectors. His previous roles include those in the fitness industry, leisure consultancy and sports facility management. Having taken the role of Coordinator in Dun Laohaire Rathdown Sports Partnership in 2008, he now collaborates with a range of partner organisations to increase participation in sport and physical activity across all age groups and abilities in the County. While a large proportion of his time would be spent in leadership and planning, he is also heavily involved in managing a range of events and initiatives around getting people out and active in whatever form that takes. Shane is also a long-standing Director in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre.
