FIS Post-Budget Reaction: Government’s 4% increase in Core funding to be shared by 87 organisations

Oct 3, 2024

• Government’s 4% increase in Core funding to be shared by 87 organisations
• Budget allocation to Sport Ireland for 2025 is €115.16 million
• Core funding allocation of €30 million sees marginal increase of €1.3m (4%) across 58 NGBs and 29 LSPs
• High Performance Sport allocated an additional €1.2 million
• A dedicated Disability in Sport funding stream allocated €1 million

The Government yesterday unveiled further details of Budget 2025, the largest budget in the history of the State. Additional funding to the sport sector is welcome however, the allocated 4% increase – €1.3 million – will not mitigate the rising costs of doing business for our National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs).

The NGBs and LSPs are responsible for the people and programmes that drive participation from grassroots all the way through to high performance. As stated in the Federation’s Pre Budget-Submission “Core Funding is used to strengthen the core of an organisation, not just maintain it.” Core funding allows NGBs and LSPs recruit additional staff and retain existing staff, run programmes, and develop coaching to meet the growing demands and reduce barriers to entry into their sport.

The recent Community Sports Facilities Fund allocation, while welcome news for communities and individual clubs, does not address the myriad of responsibilities placed on National Governing Bodies, including development, education, ethics, equity, inclusivity, diversity, coaching, promotion, safeguarding, and good governance of each sport nationwide.

Core funding budgets have come under increasing pressure to deliver on regulatory requirements including pensions auto enrolment, governance compliance and reporting. There is a growing pressure point for our member organisations to retain staff and find sufficient resources to recruit much needed members of staff to activate programmes to grow participation.

Speaking following the Departmental briefing, FIS CEO Mary O’Connor stated: “Following the national high of our best ever performance on the international stage at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, our members looked forward to an increase in core funding to operationalise their activities, comply with governance requirements and deliver the Government’s own national sports policy. While funding in other areas is welcome, as is the announcement on taxation reform, the core funding increase fails to keep pace with inflation and will directly impact our members’ ability to deliver basic support across their sports in 2025. The Federation of Irish Sport will engage with the Minister and his Department to ensure that the challenges facing the sector are clearly understood and addressed.”

Budget 2025 – Ministers Announce Details for the Sector

Oct 1, 2024

Excerpt from Minister for Finance Jack Chambers on Budget 2025 – Sports and philanthrophy

Sport

Making good on the commitment in last year’s Budget speech, I will also be bringing forward measures to support national sporting bodies in planning and investing for the future.

Changes will be made to the tax exemptions that apply to those bodies to facilitate long term investments for the purposes of future capital projects, sport equipment needs, to support Ireland’s high-performance athletes, and sports participation.

Furthermore, I will be bringing forward measures in the Finance Bill to allow those making donations to sports bodies, for capital projects, and the other objectives, greater flexibility on how those donations will be treated for Income Tax purposes. It is my intention that both PAYE and self-assessed donors will be able to choose for the income tax relief on donations under the relevant tax provisions to go either to themselves or to the sporting body itself. I believe that this will provide an additional incentive for taxpayers to provide direct support to their local and national clubs and bodies.

I strongly believe that physical activity is an essential part of supporting the health and mental well-being of all our citizens, young and old. As such, I believe there is merit in examining how the tax system can help to achieve greater participation in sport and fitness activities, including through gyms for example. Over the course of next year, my officials will continue this work with the view of developing proposals for consideration in advance of next year’s Budget.

Excerpt from Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Pascal Donohoe on Budget 2025

Culture and society

Ceann Comhairle, I believe that Ireland holds a unique position in the world, where our culture, ár dteanga and our artists are the beating heart of our society. There are record numbers visiting our national cultural institutions. Irish writers are some of the best in the world – giving us pause to reflect on the world around us, to make sense of it or, indeed, to escape it entirely for a moment.

In 2025, I am allocating:

• almost three hundred and eighty million euro to Arts and Culture
• one hundred and seven million euro to the Gaeltacht, which will provide a wide variety of supports to our Irish speaking communities in the Gaeltacht and beyond
• two hundred and twenty-six million euro to Tourism
• three hundred and twenty-eight million in funding to Media, including six million euro for the independent broadcasting sector
• two hundred and thirty-one million euro in funding to Sports, which will benefit clubs and organisations in every corner of the country

Ahead of Budget 2025 the Federation welcomes the Government’s recognition of the importance of maintaining and increasing investment in the sector.

Sep 25, 2024

 The Federation of Irish sport today welcomes announcement this significant investment in grassroots sport under phase 2 of Community Sport Facilities Fund and is pleased to see that government has again recognised the importance of investing in infrastructure that impacts so positively on every community in Ireland, the Federation also notes that for every €100 euro invested by government they get a return of €209 euro in associated taxes.

The Federation looks forward to the announcement of Budget 2025 and believes that the government having announced investment in infrastructure that they will further cement their investment in the Irish Sport sector by increasing core funding in NGBs and LSPs on a multi annual basis to ensure the organisation  and sustained participation of people and programmes in Ireland is adequately resourced.

Largest-ever funding announced for Sport Facilities

 ·      Ministers Martin and Byrne announce €230m in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly Sports Capital and Equipment Programme)

·      Over a quarter of a billion allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 with a total investment of €256m

·      Record allocation will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland 

 The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D., and the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne T.D., today announced 1,996 grants with a total value of €230m for new and improved sports facilities and equipment throughout the country under the Community Sport Facilities Fund, formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.

 Ministers Martin and Byrne were joined by Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, at Cambridge FC in Ringsend to announce the record funding.

 The €230m allocation announced today follows May’s allocation of €26m for sports equipment which brings the total investment in community sport and recreation in 2024 to an unprecedented €256m. This is a 50% increase on the funding allocated in early 2022 under the 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.

 Over 40 separate sports, as well as multi-sport facilities throughout the country, will benefit from the community sport grants announced today. Each application was assessed under criteria including population density, deprivation and access to facilities. Unsuccessful applicants can appeal any grant applications deemed invalid.

 Speaking at the announcement in Ringsend today, Minister Martin said:

“Sport is vital to our sense of togetherness and community, from local clubs to professional and high-performance teams and athletes. Each and every one of these grants represents a project that will create a new or improved opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport to the best of their ability. Clubs will be better able to serve their communities with the help of this fund. For example 194 clubs are getting funding to install solar panels, 317 clubs are getting funding for LED floodlights and 966 projects will include improvements to pitches.

 “These vital improvements and new facilities will add to the equipment allocations announced earlier this year to ensure that more people than ever have access to the sports they love in their local areas.”

 Minister Byrne said:

“Over a quarter of a billion euro is being invested in sports clubs and facilities under the Community Sport Facilities Fund. This level of sports funding is unprecedented and will prove transformative for sports clubs and facilities in communities across Ireland. As a Government, we are committed to providing everyone, of every age and ability, with the opportunity to participate in sport and this record allocation for sport demonstrates that commitment.

 The inspiring performance of Team Ireland at the Olympics and Paralympics recently in Paris demonstrated the positive power of sport and we understand that any sporting journey begins within the community. The record funding being announced today under the Community Sport Facilities Fund underlines this Government’s continued commitment to seeing Irish sport thrive into the future.”

 Minister Donohoe said:

“This Government is committed to supporting sport at all levels, from grassroots and community-level facilities right up to our high-performance athletes on the world stage. Sport adds so much to our lives, as spectators, beginners or those who are excelling in their field. The mental and physical benefits are immeasurable. Ensuring adequate investment means that our participants have good facilities at their disposal and can train to compete to the best of their ability, whatever that is. After such a successful summer for our Olympians and Paralympians, it’s great to have an opportunity to underline our investment in sport for everyone, in every community across the country.”

Double Olympic Gold Medallist Fintan McCarthy launches Federation’s call for increased investment in sport in Budget 2025

Sep 18, 2024

Federation of Irish Sport Launches Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2025

• Submission calls for Multi-Annual Core Funding Increase, Reforms to Taxation Policies and increase in Betting Levy to Support Growth of Irish Sport & Physical Activity
• Click here to read full submission

Double Olympic gold medallist Fintan McCarthy today joined the Federation of Ireland Sport along with National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships from across Ireland in urgently calling for greater investment in Irish sport in Budget 2025.

McCarthy was the special guest of the Federation of Irish Sport at the launch of its Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2025, an event attended by elected representatives of Dáil Éireann, Senators, and members of the Federation, which represents 81 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs).

The Federation has put forward three key “Asks” of the government, with the primary request being for a multi-annual increase in core funding for NGBs and LSPs. Core funding is the heart sporting bodies in Ireland, enabling the creation of programmes and pathways that identify, nurture, and support the sporting heroes of tomorrow. Additional calls for taxation reform and an increase in the betting levy comprise the two other key Asks.

Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, emphasised the significance of this funding: “Our overall ask in relation to the upcoming budget is for government to increase funding for the core activities which build the base of sport and physical activity in Ireland. We realise that there is much to be financed across many areas in relation to Budget2025, we would however respectfully suggest that additional funding for sport might be found through the proposed changes to taxation under Action 3.7 and an increase in the betting levy for Sport.”

Since the launch of the National Sports Policy in 2018, significant progress has been made in high-performance and sports capital funding. However, core funding for NGBs and LSPs, which is critical for the long-term development of grassroots sport, has lagged behind/not matched/has been eroded by inflation and rising costs. This funding is essential for building programmes, retaining key personnel, and attracting quality coaches and staff.

By adopting a multi-annual funding model, the Federation argues, the government would provide the certainty needed to plan strategically and deliver meaningful long-term outcomes.

“Core funding is used not only to maintain the foundation of these organisations but to strengthen it,” O’Connor added. “All sport in this country starts with the NGBs and LSPs. They build the programmes and nurture the participants who go on to perform at the highest levels on the world stage.”

Mary O’Connor further highlighted the potential of taxation reform: “As we have mentioned previously in our submissions, we believe that changes could be made in existing legislation to the benefit of sport. We also believe that a 1% rise in the betting tax could produce up to €40 million, which could beneficially invest in sport and in programmes aimed at tackling the problems of gambling addiction.”

Board Readiness Training – New Dates Announced

Sep 12, 2024

The Federation of Irish Sport are pleased to announce new dates for their Board Readiness Training programme for those who have recently been appointed to an NGB/LSP board or who have never served on a board of a sporting organisation but have an interest in this area.

The programme will give an overview of the following topics.

• Sporting landscape
• Sport and Gender Equality
• Legal context
• Governance
• Sporting Boards
• Membership
• Strategy

The programme will take place online via zoom on all of the following dates (Course is 4 weeks long)

• Monday November 4^th 7-9pm
• Monday November 11^th 7-9pm
• Monday November 18^th  7-9pm
• Monday November 25^th 7-9pm

The programme will be presented by Sarah O Shea ( please see attached bio)

It promises to be both informative and interactive programme that will ensure candidates are prepared to operate effectively at board level.

The programme is free, but places are limited and will be on a first come first served basis.

If you are interested or need more information, please contact info@irishsport.ie

Deadline for applications is COB Monday October 7^th 2024