Feb 14, 2022
‘THE PANDEMIC WAS A GAME CHANGER. HOW DOES THE SPORTS SECTOR PLAY THE GAME NOW?’
- Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand will deliver the international keynote address to the Federation of Irish Sport members at their upcoming online member CEO Forum.
- Celebrating 20 years in 2022, the Federation of Irish Sport will also feature a panel of experts from the UK & Ireland to discuss the important economic value of Sport in Ireland.
- Other special guest speakers to be announced.
Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand
The Federation of Irish Sport are delighted to host Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand as part of the upcoming member CEO Forum to be held on March 1st. Prior to joining Sport New Zealand in 2020, Raelene spent seven years working in Australia as Chief Executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and then Chief Executive of Rugby Australia. She was previously Chief Executive of Netball New Zealand from 2007 to 2013. She has held several governance roles in sport, previously serving as a board director of the ANZ Championship Netball, International Federations of Netball Associations, SANZAAR Rugby and the World Rugby Council. Raelene was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2015 for services to Business and Sport.
Speaking about the upcoming online member CEO Forum, Federation CEO Mary O’Connor said, ‘We are delighted to host Raelene Castle as part of our online member CEO forum. We are looking forward to hearing Raelene’s insights on:
- State of the nation New Zealand and Covid19
- Health and GDP – background and research
- Sport NZ’s Towards 2032 Strategic Direction document & Strategic Plans for the period 2020-24
- The Living Standards Framework, a whole of Government view focused on inter-generational outcomes
Hosted by broadcaster Gráinne McElwain, the 2022 member CEO Forum, ‘The Pandemic was Game Changer. How does the Sports Sector Play the Game Now?’ is exclusively for member CEO’s, LSP co-ordinators and member Chairpersons and invited guests. There will be expert insights on the national importance of sport and physical activity.
Details of special guest speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Member CEO Forum 20th Anniversary
Federation of Irish Sport Background
Established in 2002 by the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), the Federation of Irish Sport currently represents over 110 NGBs and LSPs, consisting of over 13,500 sports clubs nationwide. As the Voice of Irish Sport, our role is to speak on behalf of our members and represent their views to the public, while also providing them with a range of services.
Over the last 20 years as the membership has steadily grown, the Federation has seen it’s role evolve along with the importance of sport and physical activity in society. New services to members have included the provision of Garda Vetting services, creation of the Sports Disputes Solutions Ireland (SDSI), annual Pre-Budget Submissions, regular Oireachtas Committee representation, support of the 20X20 campaign, representation on the National Sports Policy Leadership Group and the newly created Board Recruitment Service for members.
The Federation continues to communicate the benefits of sport in areas such as personal health/wellbeing, the economy and society as a whole and champion the work of the 450,000 people who volunteer for sport and physical activity in Ireland on a weekly basis that has a value of €1.5 billion to the exchequer.
Feb 11, 2022
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, today (11 February) announced an overall package of €150 million in new capital grants under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). €144 million is allocated to almost 1,900 applications with €6 million kept in reserve for successful appeals lodged by unsuccessful applicants.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, said:
“Sport is crucial for all communities in Ireland. There was a record number of applications for these grants and the government responded with the most significant level of individual awards ever.
“So this is a great day for sports clubs and community groups right around the country and I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants.
“It has been a tough two years for many sports clubs but the pandemic really demonstrated the importance of sport for our collective wellbeing. The grants we are announcing today will significantly improve sports facilities in every county. There is a huge variety of different sports covered and I was particularly pleased that the scoring system placed an even greater emphasis on female participation.
“Over 30 sports and activities are represented, ranging from competitive, track and field games right through to walking.
“I want to thank all of the volunteers associated with these clubs for their tireless work and their commitment to improving their facilities to benefit all members.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, Jack Chambers, highlighted the huge number of grantees and the wide variety of sports funded:
“Anybody involved in sport at local level knows the importance of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. I am delighted that today’s announcement represents the highest level of funding ever provided for any round of the Programme.
“As well as the major field sports, funding is being provided to tennis clubs, cricket, boxing, kayaking, wheelchair sports and martial arts to name just some. It is great to see crowds back at big sporting events in recent weeks but our key focus is to get as many people participating as possible. COVID-19 revealed to us all the importance of community and I am particularly pleased that so many community centres and organisations have been allocated funding to develop projects in towns and villages across the country. If we want to achieve our participation targets, we must provide high quality facilities and that is what today’s announcement is all about.
“As well as grants to local clubs, I am also delighted that we are providing over €17 million for projects deemed to be of “regional” significance. Amongst these grantees are a number of GAA County Boards, National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities.”
The record level funding allocation announced today was achieved with the support of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, and it reflects the government’s ongoing support to Sport during the COVID-19 pandemic as it emerges from the challenges of the past two years. It reflects the funding challenges facing clubs across the country, the unprecedented number of applications received and the vital role that sport plays in supporting community and individual wellbeing, a role that came into sharp focus during the pandemic.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion.
By the closing date for applications (1 March 2021) under this latest round, 3,106 applications had been submitted seeking over €200 million in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received. The scoring system and assessment procedures were finalised and published prior to assessment work commencing and all applications were assessed in accordance with these procedures.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for ‘equipment-only’ projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August 2021.
All unsuccessful applicants will be given the opportunity to appeal the department’s decision and information on the appeal process will issue to relevant organisations in the coming weeks. €6 million has been set aside to cover successful appeals under this process.
Feb 9, 2022
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has given a guarded welcome to draft legislation published today by the Department of Enterprise to reform the Personal Injuries Assessment Board but highlighted risks and missed opportunities and urged the Government to continue the PIAB reform process into the future.
Key elements of the draft legislation include:
- The extension of PIAB responsibilities to cover assessment of psychological injuries, more complex injuries and those taking longer to resolve themselves
- The addition of mediation to the PIAB process
- A new fraud detection role
- Extensive new data collection responsibilities
Key elements missing from the draft legislation include:
- The development of PIAB into a body empowered with adjudicating on claims, with no need to go to litigation except in limited circumstances
- The establishment of an independent national claims database for use in encouraging competition and preventing fraud.
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “PIAB is essential as a means of processing personal injury claims quickly and cheaply to the benefit of plaintiffs and defendants alike. While we will always welcome legislation that develops and enhances the role of PIAB, the draft legislation published today only goes part of the way, come with some risks and misses out on two great opportunities.”
“The extension of PIAB responsibilities to cover assessment of psychological injuries, more complex injuries and those taking longer to resolve themselves is most welcome. Likewise, the new fraud detection role and broadened data generation responsibilities.
“However, the introduction of mediation must not be allowed to create additional delays or add costs to the PIAB process.“
Eoin McCambridge, Managing Director of McCambridge’s of Galway and Director of the Alliance said “It is disappointing that today’s proposed legislation does not allow PIAB to adjudicate on claims. This is a missed opportunity. PIAB has vast experience with regard to personal injuries, accumulated over 17 years of processing virtually every claim in the country. Indeed, they now process and assess way more claims than the Judiciary, as very few cases ever get into a courtroom. But far too many of the claims they process move on to needless litigation. And as has been illustrated time and time again now by the Central Bank’s NCID, the only beneficiaries of litigation in personal injury claims are solicitors and barristers, with the acquiescence of insurers. So it makes absolute sense for society that the vast majority of claims be settled at PIAB and while today’s draft legislation will bring us some of the way, it must be followed by ongoing reviews, to be allowed for in the final legislation, ultimately bringing us to a situation where PIAB can adjudicate on most claims. The Government cannot tick the box and move on – reform of PIAB must be an ongoing process.”
Peter Boland said “A claims database available to all insurers and other legitimately interested parties is essential to allow them to protect policyholders from fraudulent claims and to ensure fair competition. However, InsuranceLink, the only such database in Ireland, is owned and controlled by insurer body Insurance Ireland for the benefit of its members. The European Commission has made a preliminary finding that Insurance Ireland delayed or denied access to InsuranceLink to non-member insurers, placing them at a competitive disadvantage. We again urge Government to take the database into State control this year, ideally through PIAB. “
Tracy Sheridan, owner of Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and director of the Alliance said “While these reforms were clearly drafted in the public interest, they will be trenchantly resisted by elements of the legal profession, determined to resist what will be seen as a threat to their revenue streams. PIAB has been subject to such resistance, through lobbying and legal challenges, since it was established in 2004; and so have the new guidelines on personal injury awards implemented last year by the Judicial Council. Government must see that resistance for what it is and act in the interest of society as a whole.”
ENDS
For further details or any queries, contact:
Peter Boland, Director, Alliance for Insurance Reform. peter@insurancereform.ie Mobile: 086 8266 036
NOTE
The Alliance brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 622,000 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. Our members include:
- AOIFE Ireland (Association of Irish Festival Events)
- Car Rental Council of Ireland
- Childminding Ireland
- Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland
- Community Reuse Network Ireland
- Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association
- Cork Business Association
- Disability Federation of Ireland
- Early Childhood Ireland
- Family Business Network Ireland
- Federation of Irish Sport
- Galway Chamber
- Galway City Business Association
- Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN)
- Historic Houses of Ireland
- Home and Community Care Ireland
- Incoming Tour Operators Association Ireland
- Ireland Active
- Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism
- Irish Caravan and Camping Council
- Irish Charity Shops Association
- Irish Concrete Federation
- Irish Hotels Federation
- Irish Road Haulage Association
- Irish Showman’s Guild
- Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network
- Irish Travel Agents Association
- ISME
- Licensed Vintners Association
- Motorsport Ireland
- National Campaign for the Arts
- National Community Care Network
- Nursing Homes Ireland
- Play Activity and Leisure Ireland
- Quick Service Food Alliance
- Restaurants Association of Ireland
- Retail Excellence
- RGDATA
- Sligo PPN
- Society of the Irish Motor Industry
- South Dublin County PPN
- Sport Ireland
- Theatre Forum
- Union of Students in Ireland
- Vintners Federation of Ireland
- Volunteer Ireland
- The Wheel (Ireland’s national association for community, voluntary and charitable organisations)
Dec 21, 2021
A number of new public health measures were announced on December 17 effective today December 20 2021 through January 30th 2022.
Full details of the announcement can be found here – gov.ie – New public health measures announced – Friday 17 December (www.gov.ie)
In relation to organised sporting events the following apply:
Indoor Sport
- Indoor sporting events will not take place after 8pm. For events happening earlier in the day, attendance should be limited to 50% of venue capacity or 1,000 attendees, whichever is the lower.
- The 8pm time restriction does not apply to indoor sports training. This training can continue in line with previous guidance and with protective measures in place ( i.e. use of pods where applicable, cleaning/hygiene, ventilation, mask use etc.).
Outdoor Sport
- Attendance at outdoor sporting events are limited to 50% of venue capacity or 5,000 attendees, whichever is the lower.
- The 8pm time restriction does not apply to outdoor sporting events or outdoor training.
Sports should also monitor the various updates in relation to close contacts and international travel with a number of changes having come into effect
Dec 17, 2021
Sport Ireland today published the 2021 Irish Sport Monitor Interim Report Q3, which covers the months July-September this year and shows that participation in sport continued to rise throughout the year with numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels.
In the third quarter of the year 43% of Irish people over the age of 16 years old took part in sport, which is up from 41% in the second quarter of 2021 and 35% in the first quarter. This now means that participation in sport is approaching the 46% recorded in 2019.The Irish Sports Monitor studies the levels of sport and physical activity in Ireland as well as the impact of Covid-19 on those levels.
There has been a drop in the percentage of people walking for recreation from 76% in Q2 2021 to 72% in Q3, though recreational walking remains ahead of the 66% level seen in 2019. Physical activity levels are still above pre-pandemic levels, with 41% of the population meeting the national physical activity guidelines through sport and recreational walking alone, up from 34% in 2019.
Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD commented: “I am delighted to see the numbers involved in sport continuing to grow and it is encouraging to see that physical activity levels continue to be significantly higher than they were two years ago. This is positive news, though we won’t become complacent and it remains a major priority for me in the coming weeks and months to get more people of all ages involved in sport and physical activity.”
Other highlights see a rise in active travel, with 50% of people walking and 13% cycling for transport, which are above the 40% and 10% levels respectively recorded in 2019.
As restrictions were lifted earlier this year volunteering and event attendance bounced back dramatically, 9% and 15% respectively, just slightly behind 2019 levels of 12% and 19%. This increase seems to be largely driven by 35-44 year old age group who have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels of volunteering.
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy commented: “While the results of this report are encouraging, and seeing the increased numbers of people volunteering is a particular positive, there are certain areas that warrant further attention in the coming months. This research shows that gradients are growing in terms of participation in a number of areas – it is vital that we reduce these gradients and ensure that sport and physical activity are for all.”
There are growing gradients in sport participation for women, people with disabilities and older people. Male sports participation has grown faster than female participation resulting in a widening gender gap. 48% of men report taking part in sport while 38% of women reported taking part in sport, though there is no difference in genders in overall physical activity levels, due to higher levels of women walking for recreation. Sports participation for those without a disability (49%) has almost returned to 2019 levels (50%), creating a widening gap to those with a disability (27%, down from 33% in 2019).
Although sports participation for older people has increased in Q3, it has not kept pace with the return to sport of younger people who are now almost at pre-pandemic levels, creating a growing age gradient.
https://www.sportireland.ie/news/2021-irish-sports-monitor-interim-report-q3-shows-participation-in-sport-now-nearing-pre
End.
Dec 14, 2021
The Federation of Irish Sport honoured the dedication and service to Sport of John Treacy, CEO of Sport Ireland as an Outstanding Contribution recipient for 2021.
Irish Sport Industry Innovation Series Outstanding Contribution Recipients
The honour, which usually forms part of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, hosted by the Federation of Irish Sport, were this year included in the insightful and engaging online Irish Sport Industry Innovation Series which replaced the awards in springtime of 2021 due to the pandemic restrictions. This year there were two recipients of the Outstanding Contribution Award. The Federation of Irish Sport is now pleased to announce the second winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award, John Treacy, CEO of Sport Ireland. He was presented with his certificate for Outstanding Contribution and service to Sport by Mary O’Connor, CEO Federation of Irish Sport at the Sport Ireland HQ at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown.
Fellow recipient of the 2021 accolade Georgina Drumm received her award in April of this year as part of the series. Georgina made history as the first female president of Athletics Ireland in 2016 after a long history of roles within the sport Under her stewardship Athletics Ireland saw female membership increase by 20,000 between 2008 and today.
Speaking about the worthy recipient, Federation of Irish Sport Chairperson Clare McGrath said, “Our sector is built on the dedication and hard work of so many individuals who turn their passion for their sport or activity into a life of service. Our Outstanding Contribution recipient epitomises that and we are delighted to be able to recognise his efforts. While we chose not to host our Irish Sport Industry Awards this year, we felt it was appropriate and indeed necessary to continue the tradition of the Outstanding Contribution award. I am delighted as Chairperson to be able to spotlight and honour the work of John”.
The legacy of John Treacy’s work in leading Sport Ireland and overseeing the substantial change of both high performance and local sport in Ireland will live on long into the future.
From his days as a cross country runner from Villierstown, becoming the first back to back world cross country champion, through his incredible marathon silver medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles just days after finishing 9th in the 10,000 meters, John Treacy has been a leading light in Irish sport for over 40 years now.
While he will always be known to the general public for his athletic prowess, to those in the business of sports administration he is known for his leadership of Sport Ireland (previously the Irish Sports Council) from its inception in 1999. While he brought a much-needed focus on High Performance in Irish sport, it was his work in the formation of the local sports partnerships in 2000 which has had perhaps the most substantial impact on sport in the community.
