“The Federation of Irish Sport welcome the announcement today that there is to be no reduction in the current funding for sport from the €42.5 million allocated in 2014. The fact that a floor in the funding levels for sport has now been reached provides a positive platform for further investment against a significantly improving fiscal backdrop.
In our pre-budget submission the Federation called on the Government to return the current funding for sport -as distributed through the Irish Sports Council to the Federation’s 100 plus members – to 2011 levels by 2016. The Federation remains’ committed to working with the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport through the revised estimates process and into next year to secure this additional €4.4 million by 2016.
We also welcome the Government’s decision to provide a third round of the Sports Capital Programme. The decision to introduce a third round of the Programme is evidence, we believe, of an increasing recognition of the contribution and role of sport to communities nationwide and the importance of indigenous niche sectors in underpinning our recovery
The Federation had also asked Government to extend the tax relief currently in place for donations to sporting bodies in connection to capital projects to items of current spend. In that context it is our understanding that the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport are establishing a working group to examine the proposal in more detail. We look forward to actively participating in that review process.
Government investment will remain crucial to sport in Ireland but sport also wants to play its part in generating revenue for the sector by unlocking its hidden financial potential which we are confident is there. At present Irish Sport is the only part of the not for profit sector which does not to benefit from a tax relief on “current spend”. We are looking to Government to encourage the development of a culture of giving to sport in line with other areas.
The type of sports programmes that the Federation envisage would benefit from this relief should it be introduced would include programmes that bring different sports to new places; that support our existing and developing athletes as well as programmes that can target hard to reach members of our communities; that can develop our coaches and look after our athletes”.
Bernard Brogan, recently appointed President of the Federation of Irish Sport noted:
“This is the first time in six years that there has been no reduction in the current funding for Irish Sport. That, together with the announcement around the Sports Capital Funding is good news. As a country we now need to look at ways of increasing the revenues available to sport and the Federation will continue to work with Government to pursue our target of getting back to 2011 levels of funding by 2016 as well as ways of increasing levels of private sector investment into sport.”
ENDS
For further information: Sarah O’Connor, Chief Executive Federation Irish Sport 086 8048446. www.irishsport.ie
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Dept of Transport, Tourism & Sport Press Release (Extract), 14th October
Dept of Transport, Tourism & Sport Budget will further support job creation – Donohoe & Ring
Targeted investment in public transport and road network & continuation of 9% VAT rate will support economic activity and enhance job growth
- Retention of the lower VAT rate will encourage employment in tourism sector
- Maintenance of PSO at current levels & targeted investment in public transport and road network will enable economic growth
- New round of Sports Capital Programme (SCP) funding will help support construction industry & improve nation’s health
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, and the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, today (Tuesday) said measures contained in Budget 2015, including the retention of the 9% VAT rate, the safeguarding of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding for public transport and a new round of Sports Capital funding will contribute to the Government’s overall objective of creating 100,000 additional jobs by 2016. The total capital spend for the Department in 2015 will be more than €950 million; an increase of €50 million on 2014 when once-off stimulus funding for this year is factored out.
Speaking this afternoon, Minister Donohoe said: ‘The Irish people have been through a great deal over the last number of years and have made sacrifices to ensure our finances were stabilised and our economic recovery put in place. This Budget is about securing that recovery and implementing the most effective job creation measures to enable the continuation of the growth we have seen under this Government’.
New round of the Sports Capital Programme
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD said: ‘The allocation of a further round of SCP funding this year, which is the third round of funding during our term in Government, will provide opportunities for clubs and organisations around the country to apply for funds. By facilitating essential works to be carried out on pitches, clubhouses, and in respect of things such as lighting, the construction industry stands to benefit. This investment in sport also ensure that greater participation is encouraged, which has hugely positive social, physical and mental implications both for the individual and for broader society.
“In addition to this, the maintenance of current expenditure funding for sport at 2014 levels will allow the Irish Sports Council to continue what can only be described as an exceptionally successful programme for high performance sport next year, which will facilitate our athletes in their preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Minister Donohoe concluded: ‘We owe it to ourselves to ensure that the mistakes of the past are never again repeated and to ensure that our recovery is cemented. A jobs focused Budget such as this is instrumental in achieving that aim. Continuing to set goals so that we, as a country, can reach our true potential, get our people back to work and ensure that the recovery is felt in every corner of the country is our single objective. My Department has a central role in that, which I am determined to see fulfilled.”
Ends
Press Office, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport,
01 604 1090 / 01 6041093 www.dttas.ie pressofice@dttas.ie