May 9, 2024
Record Funding for Sports Equipment Announced
Ministers Catherine Martin and Thomas Byrne announce over €26m in equipment grants to sporting organisations nationwide
- Total allocation represents largest-ever funding for sports equipment under Sports Capital and Equipment Programme
- Further funding for capital works, including those with an equipment component, to be confirmed later
Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, have announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (‘SCEP’).
The allocations announced today under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme are in response to equipment-only applications which sporting organisations submitted. Over 900 sports groups were successful in their applications for various types of equipment which will be of practical benefit to multiple sports organisations, their members and athletes across Ireland.
Further allocations under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, including those for capital works, and capital works tied with an equipment component, will be announced later.
Minister Martin said: “Our sporting organisations are at the heart of our communities providing opportunities to people to participate in healthy activities and to enjoy the successes of their local teams and sporting heroes. I am delighted to confirm the largest ever allocation of grants for equipment under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. The significant funding announced today will assist a vast range of sporting organisations around the country and be a great source of support to local teams on and off the field of play. Minister Thomas Byrne and I are committed to providing continued supports to sporting organisations to increase participation in sport in communities across Ireland. I am confident that the revised allocations under the National Development Plan will also allow for significant funding to be allocated for capital works when the necessary assessments of applications are completed.”
Minister Thomas Byrne said: “The diversity of organisations which will receive this record level of sports equipment funding illustrates the passion and interest that we have as a nation for sport in all its forms. The work done on a voluntary basis throughout the country in sports organisations is invaluable and it is only right that the Government plays its part in facilitating sporting participation and excellence across the country. In an Olympic year it is appropriate that we illustrate the Government’s commitment to sport and participation through strong investment in the facilities and equipment needed. I look forward to confirming further capital funding for the sport sector under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.”
May 3, 2024
• Funding available for investment in barrier-free outdoor sport infrastructure
• Fund focused at increasing participation in local community settings
• Fund open to applications from the network of Local Sports Partnerships nationwide from today until Friday, 21 June
The Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne T.D., has today (Friday, 3 May) launched a new sport investment fund, the ‘Participation Nation Outdoor Fund’, for the purchase and installation of permanent sport equipment that can be placed on public land for community use.
In line with the Programme for Government target of reaching 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, the fund is designed to spur physical activity in local community settings by supporting Local Sports Partnerships with the development of sport projects on publicly-accessible land.
The fund will be overseen by the Department and administered by Sport Ireland with applications open to the network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships. (‘LSP’). A minimum of €70,000 will be available to each LSP for the purposes of installing barrier-free sports infrastructure on publicly-accessible land.
“Every person, of every ability, should enjoy the right to participate in sport and physical activity. Last week, I announced funding of up to €120m under a new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund and this week, I am delighted to launch the new Participation Nation Outdoor Fund. From small-scale investment to large-scale investment in sport, we must always ensure that there is a participation dividend. The new sport fund that I am announcing today is very important because it will provide communities and individuals with the opportunity to be more active in barrier-free outdoor settings. This new sport fund will help us in realising the many social and health benefits that come with participating in sport and physical activity and I look forward to seeing the delivery of these sport projects around the country.”
May 3, 2024
The nominations deadline for the 2024 Irish Sport Industry Awards has been extended until 2pm on Wednesday May 8th.
The Irish Sport Industry Awards celebrate and reward excellence in the business of sport, while simultaneously highlighting the contribution of sport to the Irish economy. This will be the seventh staging of the awards which recognise the invaluable relationship between business and sport in Ireland.
The awards will take place on Tuesday May 28th at the College Green Hotel in Dublin’s city center.
Submit a nomination here
May 1, 2024
The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to announce that Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Finance will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming Irish Sport Industry Awards at the College Green Hotel on Tuesday 28th May. This announcement reaffirms the positive working relationship between the Federation across Government departments.
Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor commented “We are particularly delighted to welcome Minister McGrath to be our keynote speaker at the upcoming awards. The Sport Industry Awards spotlight the people and partners that drive the business of Irish sports forward. The sector makes a significant economic contribution to GDP, so it’s imperative we recognise the growing diversity and innovation of the sector and the contribution it makes to Ireland’s economy. From Best Sports Business of the year and the Best New Sports Business, to celebrating commercial partnerships and use of communications, and recognising our own members successes, the Irish Sport Industry Awards reflect the varied make up of Ireland’s sports industry and the power of sport and business working together”.
The value of sport to the Irish economy is estimated to be around €3.3 billion annually, with the sector supporting over 64,000 jobs. The Federation continues to work closely with the Department of Finance promoting the value of sport to the economy and Ireland inc. and welcomes the Minister’s support of the work the Federation does on behalf of its members.
Entries Closing Friday 3rd May 2024.
Apr 29, 2024
The Federation of Irish Sport is thrilled to announce a partnership with Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet, who will sponsor the award for ‘Best Sports Business of the Year’, at the 2024 Irish Sport Industry Awards. This award recognises sustained excellence by an established sport business on the island of Ireland that has delivered innovation, growth and leadership in the industry by creating a product or service which is truly original, pushing boundaries and addressing a gap in the market. Previous winners of the award have included: Irish American Events Ltd who host the hugely successful Aer Lingus College Football Classic and STATSports one of the world’s leading suppliers of player tracking and analysis equipment.
Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet is the National Training Network for the Technology sector in Ireland. Their goal is to deliver on their mission of building the capabilities needed to realise digital ambitions.
They are committed to developing SportsTech talent and providing an opportunity for career elevation through cutting edge SportsTech courses.
Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet is proud to announce the launch of their range of SportsTech courses, tailored to meet the soaring demands of the global sports technology sector. Their Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology, and Innovation, delivered in collaboration with Technological University Dublin, is designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in this dynamic field. Whether you’re a developer, analyst, former athlete, sports manager, administrator, or tech entrepreneur, our comprehensive program caters to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
The Sports tech industry is valued at €650 billion annually and projected to grow by 20% each year until 2030. The Federation of Irish Sport welcomes this partnership and is excited to provide this opportunity for members to invest in their future.
If your organisation would like to explore how to access our programmes, and access funding for your training needs, please reach out to DIGITAL Skillnet by emailing: sportstech@digitalskillnet.ie
Apr 26, 2024
Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, have announced funding of up to €120m under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), which opens for applications today (26 April 2024).
- Ministers Martin and Byrne open new round of Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Funding
- Applications open today until 1st July 2024 @ 3pm
- New requirement to ensure similar access for women and men to LSSIF-funded sports facilities
Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 and €30m, will take into account population size, sustainability, reducing administrative overheads and ensuring that similar access is provided to accommodate access by men and women to LSSIF-funded facilities.
Minister Catherine Martin said: “It is vitally important that we continue to invest in sporting facilities so that people of all ages and abilities can benefit from their use. We need to maintain capital investment in Sport. I am pleased that following the confirmation of the revised capital allocations under the national Development Plan the Government is in a position to provide more funding assistance for the development of large scale sports projects. I encourage all eligible projects applicants with suitable projects to consider applying for this competitive process. New projects could be designed to increase participation in sport, to provide large venues or stadia or to boost high performance and new swimming pool projects will also be considered.”
Minister Thomas Byrne said: “Continued investment in sports facilities across the country is essential so we can achieve our ambitious targets for sports participation and that is why I am delighted to welcome the opening of a new round of applications under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. The implementation of the new Similar Access Requirement will also ensure that women and men enjoy similar access to all sports facilities which are publicly funded. I have been delighted to visit and engage with projects funded under the first round of LSSIF, including Connacht Rugby, the Linear Walkway Project in Meath, Phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford, and the Regional Athletics Hub in Limerick. Deliverability is a key focus of the LSSIF and I know that many more existing projects will be completed and open to the public following the additional funding confirmed last December.Today’s announcement of a new round of funding means we can build on the progress made to date under LSSIF and ensure projects across the country get an opportunity to deliver the facilities that their communities need and will participate in for decades to come.”
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 with €86.4 million awarded to 33 different projects. Additional funding of €37.6 million was allocated to 27 of these projects in December 2023, bringing the total awarded to date to Large Scale Sport Infrastructure funded projects to €124 million.
This new round of funding follows the publication earlier this month of the ‘Review of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF)’ and the new ‘Similar Access Requirement’. The Review outlined the issues faced by LSSIF projects to date and provides recommendations in relation to a new round of LSSIF. Delivery of the first round of the LSSIF is beginning to accelerate and there will be a strong focus on accelerated deliverability of projects under this new round of funding.
The guide for applicants is available here.
