Sep 25, 2013
The Oireachtas Briefing on the Federation’s pre-budget submission was the first time the Federation had an opportunity to brief a gathering of Ireland’s elected representatives inside Leinster House. We were delighted to get the the opportunity to outline some of the challenges facing Irish Sport as well as make what we believe is a compelling case for increased investment in Irish Sport. Almost 30 T.D.’s and Senators were represented either in person or by staff. Set out below is a transcript of CEO’s Sarah O’Connor’s presentation:
I would like to begin by providing a little background to the Federation. In advance of doing so I would like to acknowledge a number of the sporting CEOs present in particular those who serve on the Federation Board namely, Harry Hermon Irish Sailing, Sarah Keane, Swim Ireland, Liam Harbison, Paralympics Ireland, Thos McDermott, South County Dublin LSP, as well as our Chair, Sarah O’Shea, Legal Director with the FAI. Each of them have been instrumental in developing the document you have in your hands and I would like to acknowledge their contribution. It is indeed this coming together of sports big and small, commercial and voluntary that was crucial to the establishment of the Federation in 2002. The desire to have one organisation that can speak and advise on issues common to all sporting organisations whatever their size or nature remains core to the Federation’s work today. Our key message is that sport is so much more than just the sporting activity itself. The impact sport has on people’s lives, the contribution to their health, the events and activities it generates in local communities and indeed, the employment and industries it supports is something all of you must be aware of from your constituency work. However, on a national level we feel that the full potential of sport has yet to be harnessed.
This can perhaps be attributed to the way in which, sport has been traditionally viewed. The truth is that impact of sport stretches well beyond the white lines of any pitch or the walls of any sports hall. Sport is serious business. Sport sustains 40,532 jobs in Ireland whilst contributing 2.4 billion or 1.4% of GDP. Sports clubs alone spend an estimated €818 million within the economy each year. It is estimated that 11% of our annual health spend is directly attributable to physical inactivity. The Finnish Government, who preside over the most physically active nation in Europe, recently issued guidelines to local government warning against cuts to sport services saying that the bill for increased inactivity would fall due with interest some years later. Sport plays a key role in tourism generating more than €850 million for Ireland each year. Sport is also a key player in domestic tourism with over 250,000 Irish people travelling within Ireland to attend sports events in 2012 staying 2 nights on average whilst doing so. The impact on community life in Ireland is also significant. Sport does all of this whilst generating a return of €149 on every €100 invested by Government – there can’t be too many areas of government spending delivering this rate of return on investment.
There has always been an interface between government and sport – what perhaps, is worth pointing out is that in Ireland’s case this is still relatively new. Our sports council is only up and running 15 years compared to in the UK where the equivalent organisations were set up in the early 70’s or in Australia where they have been in place since the early 1980’s. There is a commitment to sport within the Programme for Sport which we feel can only be enhanced by the proposal we are outlining here today.
Our next slide details (see full presentation below) government investment in sport since 2004. The graph clearly details the drop in investment levels since 2009 – investment has fallen by 33% from the 2008 peak with a 9% drop to date over the life of the current government. What this graph does not perhaps detail is that sport was an emerging sector when the recession hit and now following five years of reduced investment particularly, in the current as opposed to capital spending on sport – is on a knife edge. Further cuts in the current spend will send sport backwards fast.
Why? There is so much sport in Ireland that at times it feels like sport just happens. However, nothing could be further from the truth – sport needs to be planned, managed, delivered & above all financed. Funding for sport generally comes from the sources detailed on the slide above. It goes without saying that some of these revenue streams are more relevant to certain sporting organisations than others particularly, sponsorship, broadcasting and ticketing. However, government investment and indeed volunteerism which has an estimated economic value of more than €350 million each year is common to all.
Funding for sport is however under real pressure. The CEOs of even the biggest sports, all of whom are represented here today, will tell you that they have never operated in such a challenging sponsorship market. Amateur sport does not enjoy charitable status unlike in the UK and it is perhaps for this reason that there is no tradition of philanthropic giving to sport. Sport is a labour intensive industry – participants need to be coached, clubs need to be administered, matches refereed. Sport cannot be supported without people and yet volunteers are creaking under the burden of increased regulation and expectation not to mention the financial pressure many clubs find themselves in. NGBs are coming under increased pressure to provide additional supports in this regard. Sport is being hit from all angles – a recent example being the revised rates bill issued to both Croke Park and the Aviva which saw a dramatic increase in rates payable. This is despite the significant economic return delivered by both facilities to Dublin for example, it is estimated that the football activity alone in the Aviva generated a spend of approximately €29 million over the last year whilst the Ireland v England rugby match when held in Croke Park on its own generated a spend of €83 million. Sport too operates in an international environment the vagaries of which Irish Sporting Bodies sometimes have little control be it the reclassification of events at the Paralympic Games which if goes ahead as planned will impact on the number of medal opportunities available to some of our best athletes in Rio or the French and the English feeling they no longer want to partake in the Heineken Cup as it is currently formatted.
So what can be done? Sport is aware of the economic challenges facing Ireland. Irish Sport has never been resource rich and is dealing with the impact of the recession at the front line, much like you our elected representatives, on a daily basis. Our message today is clear however, if jobs are a priority then Irish Sport can deliver. For just €1 per citizen a fund of €4.58 million could be created which would create 150 jobs in Irish Sport immediately leaving €1.5 million for programme funding to allow these indigenous jobs become sustainable. There are currently 2000 graduates with sport specific qualifications emerging each year available and willing to take up such employment. When the tax payable on these salaries not to mention the VAT paid by the sporting bodies given that they are ineligible to claim VAT we estimate that the “real cost” to the State would be no more than 3 million. 150 jobs at approximately €25k per job compares very favourably to the costs per job detailed in recent stimulus packages.
There is European, international and domestic evidence indicating that this is achievable. A recent EU study on the contribution of sport to the European Economy found that sport supports jobs and can grow other areas of the economy. Indeed, sport contributes as much value to the European economy as agriculture, fisheries and forestry combined. Every 60th euro generated or earned in Europe is sports related.
If the jobs are supported Irish Sport has a strong track record in delivering on investment in terms of the jobs and programmes we are looking to be supported and at the same time delivering real benefit to Irish society. Be it in schools where for example the GAA delivered 46,000 hours of physical activity last year in Munster the equivalent of employing 62 PE teachers full time. Or programmes such as the FAI’s late night leagues where there is a 49% reduction in Garda Call out rates for the duration of the League. Not to mention the development programmes run by all sports – Swim Ireland issued 22,000 “Learn to Swim Certificates” to children last year, 13 Donegal schools are now taking part in Ulster Development School League where there were none just a few years ago, 100% increase in Junior Membership of Triathlon Ireland in 2013, the 600 plus team competing in Volleyball Spike Ball programme which allows leaves transition year students in a position to run the programme with primary school children. In short this investment will create jobs, improve health and grow the economy……
And where can you help is by keeping sport on the political agenda, supporting us in raising awareness of the potential sport offers to Ireland, joining the Friends of Sport Group within the Oireachtas we will be establishing in the next few weeks and in particular, by seeking to avoid further reductions in the current investment in Irish sport as distributed through the sports council as well as supporting our call for the allocation of an additional €1 to go towards a job creation fund for Irish Sport….to assist sport whilst meeting real needs of the Irish economy at the same time.
On that note, I am of course happy to take any questions you may have in relation to our presentation and pre-budget submission. Many thanks for your attention.
Federation of Irish Sport- Pre Budget Briefing Presentation
Sep 25, 2013
IRISH SPORT CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INVEST IN SPORTING JOBS
- Submission asks Government to invest ONE Euro for every citizen in fund to create jobs.
- Sport seeks €4.58 million – but notes €1.5 million will go back to Exchequer in taxes.
- Fund to create jobs and deliver participation programmes
- Sport confident that 150 jobs can be created immediately
Irish sport has appealed to the Government to invest a total of €4.58 million – one euro for every citizen – in a fund specifically designed to create jobs in sport. The appeal is at the core of a pre-budget submission by the Federation of Irish Sport, the representative body for the governing bodies of all of the major sports in Ireland. Copies of the submission were delivered to the Government earlier today, Wednesday 25th September 2013.
The submission makes the case for more investment in sport – but investment specifically targeted at creating jobs and using those jobs to generate more participation in sport. The Federation notes that Government funding for sport has been cut by 33% over the past five years. It calls on the Government to reverse this process and to invest in sport – but to invest specifically in creating more jobs in sport. The Federation argues that a combination of these jobs with funding to create more participation programmes in sport will be an investment for the future. This ties in with the stated objective contained in the “Programme for Government 2011 – 2016” which provides:
“In future sports funding should prioritise projects which further greater participation in sport on a local and national level.”
The Federation points to the fact that over 2,000 young people graduate annually with a sports related qualification but that currently few, if any, of those graduates can find work in Ireland due to the continuous cuts. This is despite the fact that in the UK sport & leisure is a significant source of employment for young people with 21% of all 16 – 25 year olds working in sport.
The Federation goes on to point out that research amongst the 100 plus organisations they represent has shown that over 150 jobs could be created immediately if there was funding available.
In calling for the Government to stop cutting sports funding and to invest in the jobs initiative the Federation has looked for a specific sum – €4.58 million, which the Federation points out is the equivalent of just ONE euro for every person in the country. The submission details that government investment in sport currently amounts to €9.42 per citizen.
Speaking of the submission, Sarah O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, said that the Federation had decided to concentrate on a single issue in its submission. “The cuts of recent years have hit sport hard. Sport was very much an emerging sector when the recession hit and Irish Sport now stands on a knife edge. Further reductions in funding could send Irish Sport backwards fast.
We are aware of the need to create jobs and know that sport as a growth sector not just in Ireland but across the EU, with real capacity to develop other niche sectors of the economy, can contribute to this effort at a relatively low cost to Government. This has been recognised by the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU which is prioritising sport stating that they intend to put forward proposals for adoption relating to sport as an impetus for economic growth and employment. Therefore, whilst we continue to work on other initiatives which we feel will help sport maximise the potential return it can make to Ireland, this year we have made jobs the focus of our submission.”
“We are confident that sport can create jobs and also sustain them in the long term. The additional funding sought should be viewed as seed capital for what is an indigenous industry. The Federation has identified that in the area of development officers alone sport could create up to 150 jobs almost immediately. We are conscious that these need to be sustained – hence our call for one third of the fund to be invested in participation programmes that will go along with the jobs. We believe these programme can become self-funding over time and will also help generate revenue to help ensure the jobs become permanent.”
“We specifically asked for €4.58 million as that represents an investment of ONE euro per citizen. And the good news for the Government is that an estimated €1.5 million of the fund will go straight back to the Exchequer in PRSI, PAYE and VAT. The estimated cost per job is therefore €25,000 which, compares very favourably with €167,000 per job in the “Infrastructure Stimulus” announced in July 2013.”
While the jobs fund is at the heart of the submission the document also points out the overall importance of sport to Ireland as an industry. It notes that:-
- Irish sport supports 40,532 jobs.
- Sport contributes €2.4 billion to the Irish economy (EU Study).
- Sport is a growth industry. There has been a 27% increase in the number of people working as professional athletes since 2006 (compared to an 18% growth in the number of accountants over the same period)
- 5,722 people are now employed as professional athletes and sports officials compared to the 6,093 people working as authors, writers and journalists
- Sport delivers 938 jobs for every million invested by Government compared to 443 in the Arts and 381 in the Horse and Greyhound industries.
- Irish sports clubs spend €818 million annually.
- 19% of all The Gathering events were sports related.
- Sports Tourism generates returns of more than €850 million annually
- 254,000 Irish residents travelled domestically to sports events in 2012 with a total expenditure of €49.4 million
Pre Budget Submission – If Jobs are a Priority then Invest in Sport
Sep 19, 2013
Irish Open Korean Ambassadors Cup – Dublin 2013
LOCATION: Tallaght Arena
DATE: 08/09/2013
PARTICIPATING TEAMS/ATHLETES: Athletes from Dublin, Wexford, Kerry, Louth, Meath, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Laois, Northern Ireland and Netherlands.
HOST: Irish Taekwondo Union (ITU)
ABOUT ITU: The ITU is the sole body responsible for the promotion and development of World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Olympic style, Taekwondo within Ireland. The WTF are the largest and most innovative Taekwondo body in the world and has over 80 million registered members in 191 countries. Most recently, the exploits of the WTF have succeeded in securing Olympic recognition for the sport of Taekwondo.
EVENT HISTORY: This is the inaugural Irish Open.
EVENT PREPARATION: The event has been in planning for at least 6 months with the Korean Embassy co-ordinating the visit of the Kukkiwon demonstration Team
THE EVENT:
Venue
The Arena ,Tallaght
Spectators/Attendees
There were at least 600 spectators on the day
Volunteers
The event was staffed by a crew of 30 volunteers
How was the event structured?
he Irish Open was organisedin the same way as an international competition ,we ran 3 rings each using the latest PSS electronic scoring equipment as used in the Olympic games and the world championships. The competition was an elimination style event with the winner progressing to the next round. At half time we had the prestigious Korean Kukkiwon Demonstration team who had flown in specially for the event.
Where next for the Irish Team?
The ITU are sending two athletes to the Junior European Championships in Portugal and after that we are preparing for A class tournaments in 2014 as well as qualification tournaments for the 2016 Olympics
How the event went, Martin Fleming, President, ITU:
The event was a fantastic success and a great spectacle. There were some top class fights on the day from National team members and newcomers all under the watchful eyes of top international referees . The presence of the Kukkiwon Demonstration team ,who had travelled from Korea for the event ,was a huge bonus. The team received a standing ovation for their breathtaking performance of taekwondo including some staggering breaking techniques. The 2013 Irish Open Korean Ambassadors cup is a showcase event for the ITU and indicates how far the sport and our organisation have come in the last few years.
For more information see:
Website: www.taekwondoireland.ie
Twitter: @irishtaekwondo
Facebook: facebook.com/irishtaekwondounion
Sep 9, 2013
Where: National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown (At the Aquatic Centre)
When: Saturday 14th of September 10.00 – 17.00
Featuring
Final of the All Ireland Archery Series
The archery spectacle of the year! After six qualification events Irelands top archers will do battle in the final of the All Ireland Series. Archers from all corners of the country will assemble at the all knockout event to compete for Irelands top prize.
Archery Session
Why not have an introduction (have a go) archery session, before competing in our beginner competition. Top archers will win an “Entry to Archery course” in their local club, Every entrant gets a go.
Traditional archery area
Check out our traditional archery area where you will observe historical archery where re-enactors will demonstrate the use of traditional archery equipment.
Tickets will be available on the gates
Cost: Adults €5, Juniors and Students €3, Family €12.
All archery activities are included
Directions
Drive into the National Aquatic centre in Blanchardstown, Take exit 2 on the roundabout, Keep to the left at the T-junction and follow the road around
For Directions to the aquatic centre
http://www.nationalaquaticcentre.ie/NAC_location.php
53.397149, -6.370066
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Sep 2, 2013
Sport & betting has been the subject of much commentary in recent times. In the main it has been protecting the integrity of sport from the potential threat of gambling as well as betting tax as a potential revenue stream for sports funding that have been the subject of the most intention. The regulation of gambling to include, recent developments in the gambling industry as well as the introduction of certain measures to protect vulnerable adults and young people that are the main focus of the proposed Gambling Control Bill, the General Scheme of which was published by Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence, Alan Shatter TD in July 2013. Read below for potential impact on sport.
The Gambling Control Bill with its dual focus as outlined above will repeal and replace all existing arrangements for the regulation of betting, gaming, bingo and lotteries (except for the National Lottery). It will extend the licensing regime to include on-line and electronic gambling and will also establish arrangements for the licensing and supervision of casinos.
Lotteries are frequently used by sports clubs as a means of fundraising. In this regard it is interesting to note that Head 19 outlines specific licensing provisions where a lottery is linked to a charitable clause including, a non-profit sports or recreational club, facility, organisation or enterprise.
Head 74 outlines particular provisions to apply to sponsorship by gambling licence holders which, in particular provides that any events sponsored by licence holders must directed primarily at an audience that is over 18 years of age whilst, all advertising of such sponsorships will need to be in compliance with rules to be developed by the proposed regulatory body to be established in accordance with the legislation.
The Bill also envisages, in Part 7, the establishment of a Social Fund to be funded by the licence holders. The purpose of the fund is to be two fold namely, to promote social responsible gambling and to assist in counter-acting the ill-effects, for society, as well as for persons and their families, of irresponsible gambling. The Fund will be overseen by the regulatory authority to be established by the legislation and will have the ability to partake with other persons in programmes that are consistent with its purposes and that promote its objectives.
As far as “betting tax” and its proceeds are concerned this is to remain the prerogative of the Department of Finance. In this regard, Minister Noonan recently reminded the Dáil that changes to betting tax to include on-line betting and betting exchanges which, to date have been outside the tax net, were provided for in the Finance Act, 2011. These measures however, he said, cannot be introduced until such time as the Betting (Amendment) Bill is enacted.
The Betting (Amendment) Bill was first published in July 2012 but both his officials and those from Revenue are currently drawing up amendments to the Bill to strengthen its enforcement measures. Minister Noonan confirmed that he hopes to return to Government in the near future to republish the Bill although, he pointed out that EU Law requires him to show the Bill to the EU Commission and other Member States resulting in a minimum of 3 months for clearance. He confirmed that he would also be examining his options regarding the taxing of online casino and poker formats once the Gambling Control Bill is enacted.
The Betting Tax is currently used to part fund the Horse & Greyhound Racing Fund (the “Fund”). There has been considerable pressure from the Horse & Greyhound Industry to bring on-line betting into the tax net as a means of boosting the amount available to the Fund from betting tax proceeds.
Betting however is no longer exclusively related to horse and greyhound racing. Recent commentary from would indicate that whilst horse & greyhound racing remains the principle staple in betting shops, other sports principally football make up an estimated 70% of bets placed on line. These changes should be reflected in future discussions around the use of the betting tax proceeds and in particular, whether a fair proportion should be used to provide funding for other sports particularly, at a time when funding for sport is in such short supply.
Aug 30, 2013
There’s been a 13 per cent increase in the number of school children in Scotland getting involved in sports during term time.
Figures from Sportscotland show that participant sessions increased to 5,063,000 during the academic year 2012-13 from 4,499,000 in 2011-12 – a rise of more than half a million.
The increase has been attributed to the government’s Active Schools campaign, which aims to provide more and higher quality opportunities for children to participate in school sport and to increase capacity through the recruitment of volunteers who deliver the activity sessions. In 2012-13 Sportscotland invested a total of £11.9m into the Active Schools Network, which delivers the programme.
As a result of the investment, the number of people delivering Active Schools supported sessions has significantly risen by 22.3 per cent from 15,792 in 2011-12 to 19,321 in 2012-13, with more than 16,000 being unpaid volunteers.
Louise Martin CBE, chair of Sportscotland, said: “These are excellent figures that show significant increases across all Active Schools measurements.
“There are more than 400 Active Schools coordinators working in schools across all 32 local authorities in Scotland and they are supporting the delivery of more and better opportunities to take part in sport and physical activities before school, during lunchtime, and after school.”
Sportscotland works in partnership with all 32 local authorities to invest in and support the Active Schools Network of managers and coordinators who work with primary, secondary, and Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools across Scotland.
The Eurydice Report published on March 23rd 2013 which looked at physical education (PE) in 28 European Countries, found that Irish primary school pupils in Europe receive less time on physical education (PE) than other schoolchildren in Europe. Whilst at secondary level only two countries spend less time than is made available in Irish schools.
One third of the countries that took part in the survey are currently planning reforms to PE. Finland and Portugal are intending to raise the profile of PE by increasing the minimum taught time. Greece and Hungry are working to improve the diversity of the offering during PE whilst, reforms in many countries are seeking to improve the conditions in which PE is delivered and promote the training of those who teach it.
The findings would seem to support the findings of the 2010 Irish Sports Council sponsored research carried out by DCU, UCC and UL which looked at children’s participation in sport and physical activity. This report found that only 35% of primary and 10% of secondary school students were obtaining the recommended minimum levels of PE as set out by the Department of Education with girls receiving less PE time than boys.
Read More Here about SportScotland’s Investment
A FULL COPY OF THE EURYDICE REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED BY CLICKING HERE
THE 2010 CHIDLREN’S SPORT PARTICIPATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STUDY CAN BE VIEWED BY CLICKING HERE
