The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD, have today paid tribute to Team Ireland athletes, following a historic European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Sarah Healy secured a gold medal in the 3000m, while Mark English and Kate O’Connor took bronze in the 800m and Pentathlon respectively.
Minister O’Donovan said:
“I want to offer my warmest congratulations to Sarah Healy, who ran a stunning race to secure Ireland’s first gold medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships since David Gillick in 2007. Heartfelt congratulations also go to medallists Mark English and Kate O’Connor, as well as the entire team. All of our high-performance athletes can be proud of their achievements, with many setting new personal best times and Irish records. This remarkable team performance underscores the importance of our investment in high-performance sport.”
Minister McConalogue said:
“It has been a brilliant championships in Apeldoorn for Team Ireland, and I want to pay tribute to Sarah, Mark and Kate, who have seen the tricolour raised in their honour from the podium. Sarah Healy displayed remarkable composure to kick on and win the 3000m, while Mark English became a five-time European medallist with his bronze in the 800m. Kate O’Connor’s pentathlon medal makes her the first Irish athlete ever to reach the podium in a senior multi-sport event. It was a memorable final day in Apeldoorn, and I wish all of our athletes the best of luck, as many of them look to the World Indoor Championships in Dubai.”
As detailed in the National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027, planning for the future development of sport in Ireland is a high priority for the Government.
The policy framework now in place for high performance sport in Ireland compares favourably with similar programmes throughout the world and continues to prove its value. For the entire Paris Cycle, covering the period 2021-2024, a total of €89m was invested by the Government and Sport Ireland. This was €30m, or over 50%, more than for the Tokyo cycle. The Government continue to deliver on the funding commitments and objectives of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027, as well as the High Performance Strategy 2021-2032, with Budget 2025 having allocated over €230 million for sport.
As announced at the recent Core Investment announcement, Athletics Ireland received €1,270,000 in core funding from the Department and Sport Ireland in 2025. This brings the total core funding received by Athletics Ireland to €7,730,000 since 2019.
In 2024 Athletics Ireland received €841,666 in High Performance Programme funding from Sport Ireland. This brings to €3,365,000 that Athletics Ireland has received in High Performance Funding over the Paris quadrennial cycle (2021-2024).
High Performance athletes are funded in Ireland under the Sport Ireland International Carding Scheme. The International Carding Scheme provides financial support to athletes for their training and competition programmes. In 2024, Sport Ireland allocated €4,400,000 under the scheme. This supported 123 athletes and nine relays/ pool funding in 16 sports, including the three medallists from Apeldoorn, who were funded at Podium or World Class level.
Déanann na hAirí O’Donovan agus McConalogue comhghairdeas le Foireann na hÉireann as an rath a bhí orthu i gCraobh Lúthchleasaíochta na hEorpa
Tá an tAire Ealaíon, Meán, Cumarsáide, Cultúir agus Spóirt, Patrick O’Donovan TD, agus an tAire Stáit um Spóirt agus Beartas Poist, Charlie McConalogue TD, tar éis ómós a thabhairt inniu do lúthchleasaithe Fhoireann na hÉireann, tar éis Craobhchomórtais Faoi Dhíon na hEorpa stairiúil in Apeldoorn, an Ísiltír. Ghnóthaigh Sarah Healy bonn óir sa 3000m, agus bhuaigh Mark English agus Kate O’Connor cré-umha san 800m agus peantatlan faoi seach.
Dúirt an tAire O’Donovan:
“Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas ó chroí a dhéanamh le Sarah Healy, a rith rás iontach chun an chéad bonn óir d’Éirinn a bhaint amach i gCraobhchomórtas Lúthchleasaíochta Faoi Dhíon na hEorpa ó David Gillick i 2007. Comhghairdeachas ó chroí freisin leis na buaiteoirí bonn Mark English agus Kate O’Connor, chomh maith leis an bhfoireann ar fad. Is féidir lenár lúthchleasaithe ardfheidhmíochta go léir a bheith bródúil as a gcuid éachtaí, agus go leor acu ag socrú amanna pearsanta is fearr agus taifid Éireannacha. Léiríonn an fheidhmíocht iontach foirne seo an tábhacht a bhaineann lenár n-infheistíocht i spórt ardfheidhmíochta.”
Dúirt an tAire McConalogue:
“Craobh den scoth a bhí in Apeldoorn d’Fhoireann na hÉireann, agus ba mhaith liom ómós a thabhairt do Sarah, Mark agus Kate, a chonaic an brat náisiúnta ardaithe ina n-onóir ón phodiaim. Léirigh Sarah Healy éirim iontach chun an 3000m a bhuachan, agus is buaiteoir cúig huaire anois Mark English lena bhonn Eorpach chré-umha san 800m. Mar gheall ar bhonn peantatlain Kate O’Connor is í an chéad lúthchleasaí Éireannach riamh a shroich an podium in imeacht ilspórt sinsearach. Lá deiridh i gcuimhne a bhí ann in Apeldoorn, agus guím gach rath ar ár lúthchleasaithe ar fad, agus go leor acu ag breathnú ar Chraobhchomórtais Dhomhanda Faoi Dhíon i Dubai.”
Mar atá sonraithe sa Bheartas Náisiúnta Spóirt 2018 – 2027, tá pleanáil d’fhorbairt spóirt in Éirinn sa todhchaí ina ardtosaíocht ag an Rialtas.
Tá comparáid fhabhrach ag an gcreat beartais atá i bhfeidhm anois do spórt ardfheidhmíochta in Éirinn le cláir chomhchosúla ar fud an domhain agus leanann sé ag cruthú a luach. Maidir le Timthriall iomlán Pháras, a chlúdaíonn an tréimhse 2021-2024, d’infheistigh an Rialtas agus Spórt Éireann €89m san iomlán. Bhí seo €30m, nó os cionn 50%, níos mó ná mar a bhí i dtimthriall Tóiceo. Leanann an Rialtas ar aghaidh ag comhlíonadh na ngealltanas maoinithe agus na gcuspóirí sa Bheartas Náisiúnta Spóirt 2018-2027, chomh maith leis an Straitéis Ardfheidhmíochta 2021-2032, agus breis agus €230 milliún leithdháilte i mBuiséad 2025 don spórt.
Mar a fógraíodh ag an bhfógra Croí-Infheistíochta le déanaí, fuair Athletics Ireland €1,270,000 i gcroímhaoiniú ón Roinn agus ó Spórt Éireann in 2025. Tugann sé seo an bunmhaoiniú iomlán a fuair Lúthchleasaíocht Éireann go €7,730,000 ó 2019 i leith.
In 2024 fuair Lúthchleasaíocht Éireann €841,666 mar mhaoiniú don Chlár Ardfheidhmíochta ó Spórt Éireann. Tugann sé seo go dtí €3,365,000 atá faighte ag Lúthchleasaíocht Éireann mar Mhaoiniú Ardfheidhmíochta thar thimthriall ceathairbhliantúil Pháras (2021-2024).
Maoinítear lúthchleasaithe Ardfheidhmíochta in Éirinn faoi Scéim Chárdála Idirnáisiúnta Spórt Éireann. Soláthraíonn an Scéim Chárdála Idirnáisiúnta tacaíocht airgeadais do lúthchleasaithe dá gcláir oiliúna agus iomaíochta. In 2024, leithdháil Spórt Éireann €4,400,000 faoin scéim. Thacaigh sé seo le 123 lúthchleasaí agus naoi n-athsheachadán/maoiniú linn snámha i 16 spórt, lena n-áirítear an triúr buaiteoirí bonn ó Apeldoorn, a fuair maoiniú ag leibhéal Podium nó den Scoth.