Modest Increase in Funding Falls Short of Sector Needs

08 October 2026, The Federation of Irish Sport (FIS) acknowledges the continued investment in Sport and Physical Activity by Government in Budget 2027, however the 5.3% increase in core funding falls well short of the investment required to ensure the delivery of core objectives for over 86 funded organisations. The €1.768m rise in the core funding budget does not reflect the delivery and regulatory challenges the sector is already facing and will immediately be absorbed by the increased costs of doing business.

The sector urgently required investment to boost participation, sustain a vanishing volunteer base, and ease the demands on its professional workforce.
The Federation of Irish Sport recognises the Government’s priority in driving greater diversity, increased female participation, continued investment in sports facilities, high-performance athletes and major international events. Notwithstanding this there is an unbalanced allocation which undervalues the wider sporting landscape delivering sport and physical activity across 86 other sporting disciplines.

Budget 2027 has failed to align financial reality with national policy. The 2025 Programme for Government explicitly recognised sport’s immense contribution to public health and economic development—yet this budget fails to pivot away from short-term funding cycles. Without multi-year certainty, the sector cannot sustain its vital personnel, protect its volunteer base, or secure long-term public health outcomes. With the next National Sports Policy presently under review there is a clear opportunity for Government to ambitiously prioritise current funding models to achieve long-term impact across the sporting landscape.

The Federation will continue to seek further clarification from both Ministers at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport on behalf of its members.

Speaking on the measures of Budget 2027 Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said: “Budget 2027 has been received with substantial disappointment by our members as it failed to acknowledge the significant challenges NGBs and LSPs face, but more importantly the significant measures delivered by our members this year alone.  For many of our members, this budget is a missed opportunity. The measures announced in Budget 2027 simply don’t go far enough, amid rising inflation costs and already over stretched resources.”