- Ministers Martin and Byrne welcome record investment in Olympic and Paralympic year.
- Highest ever level of investment into High Performance Sport in Ireland, both for an individual year and for an Olympic/Paralympic cycle
- Ireland well on track to achieve the National Sports Policy target of 270 medals in total with attention now turning to the Paris Cycle System Review
- Record investment through the International Carding Scheme (€4.4m) to provide individual funding for athletes and teams
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, today announced a record annual sum of €25m to be invested through Sport Ireland in High Performance Sport in 2024.
This is the highest ever level of investment into High Performance Sport in Ireland, both for an individual year and for an Olympic/Paralympic cycle, marking a huge step towards the investment objectives set out in the National Sports Policy 2018-2027. There’s also been a substantial increase on the €59m invested in the Tokyo cycle, with more than €89 million invested from 2021 to 2024, reflecting the Government’s commitment to delivering long-term sustained progress.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD said:
“I am very pleased that the philosophy of the HP Strategy 2021-2032 is reflected in the strategic advancements achieved by Sport Ireland throughout the Paris Cycle. Athletes now benefit from increased and multi-annual funding awards under the International Carding Scheme, while the continuation of financial and service support to athletes upon retirement highlights Sport Ireland’s people-first approach which is unique in global high-performance sport. I know that these supports, especially the multi-annual nature of the Government’s funding, were long sought by our athletes. We delivered on that and we are clearly seeing the positive results that are now happening. Team Ireland looks set for a great Paris Games and I’m eagerly looking forward to them.”
Speaking at the Sport Ireland Campus today at the High Performance Sport investment announcement, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, said:
“This record funding announcement for High Performance Sport highlights the strong level of support for Team Ireland as we look ahead to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris this summer. We have seen public investment in High Performance Sport rise from €14m in 2018 to a record €25m this year. The significant increase in High Performance Sport funding over many years demonstrates the Government’s commitment, in collaboration with Sport Ireland, to support our athletes as they strive for success.”
Sport Ireland Director of NGBs and High Performance, Paul McDermott, commented:
“The government has delivered a substantial increase in funding for Sport Ireland to build a strong high-performance system with strong governing bodies, which gives us every confidence in the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland delivering for their athletes in Paris this summer. We look forward to the year ahead, working with and continuing to support our partners to sustain this investment so Irish athletes can showcase their talents and hard work on the biggest stages.”
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, Dr. Úna May, commented:
“A record level of investment this year and throughout this cycle demonstrates Sport Ireland’s sustained commitment to mirror the dedication of the athletes and teams who represent the nation with such distinction. While Sport Ireland’s primary high-performance focus is on the long-term development of our system, we’re confident this support has set Team Ireland up to produce their best and savour the experience in Paris.”
Extra info:
An excellent year for High Performance sport culminated in the winning of 99 medals at major international competitions in 2023*. In this Paris cycle there’s so far been more than 260 medals won, which puts Ireland well on track to achieve the National Sports Policy target of 270 in total. The significant progress made since the publication of the High Performance Strategy 2021-2032 underlines Sport Ireland’s ambition and commitment to developing a strong system for Irish athletes and teams at European and World level.
Sport Ireland’s High-Performance Unit provides funding to and assists National Governing Bodies (NGBs) in the delivery of their High Performance programmes. These facilitate the ambitions of athletes and teams in reaching finals and achieving medals at European, World, Olympic and Paralympic level.
Sport Ireland continues its strong partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, with the Sport Ireland Institute operating as the Performance Support Delivery Partner to Team Ireland. From 2021-2024, Sport Ireland will have also invested €3,195,000 in the Olympic Federation of Ireland, which includes an allocation of €850,000 to support the costs associated with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. For Paralympics Ireland, Sport Ireland will provide €2,813,000 this cycle, which includes €800,000 for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
The global competitive nature of High Performance sport demands continued improvement and Sport Ireland is currently underway with its Paris cycle System Review. This process will provide insight into Ireland’s progress and achievements since 2021 as well as supporting the shift in focus to the L.A. cycle.
High Performance Coaching remains a long-term strategic priority and in 2023 Sport Ireland invested close to €1m, which supported the recruitment, retention, and upskilling of coaches. €1.5m will be invested in 2024. Sport Ireland want to see improved career opportunities, an increase in female coaches, and individualised training and mentoring for those aspiring towards and achieving success in their roles.
Multi-annual High Performance programme funding has been introduced for the Paris Cycle, enabling National Governing Bodies to better plan their programmes with a certainty of support from Sport Ireland. This year €10.8m will be invested into 19 NGBs, and this multi-annual funding will continue into the L.A. Cycle from 2025-2028.
In 2024, Sport Ireland will invest €4.4m under the International Carding Scheme. This record sum will support 123 athletes and fund teams in 16 sports, with 33 athletes awarded the top category of Podium funding. Access to the expanding Sport Ireland Campus and the Sport Ireland Institute is also a unique asset for Irish High Performance sport, offering world-class facilities and services in a supportive environment.
*A major medal is a medal won at senior or non-senior (e.g. youth, junior, under-21, etc.) level, at European Championships, World Championships, Olympic Games and Paralympics Games by Sport Ireland High Performance funded NGBs and athletes. It may also include a medal at World Cup finals that is the equivalent of a World Championships.
Maoiniú €25m, an méid is mó riamh, don Spórt Ardfheidhmíochta i 2024
- Fáiltíonn na hAirí Martin agus Byrne roimh an infheistíocht
- An leibhéal is airde maoinithe riamh sa Spórt Ardfheidhmíochta, idir bhliain aonair agus timthriall Oilimpeach/Parailimpeach
- Éire ar an mbóthar ceart sprioc an Pholasaí Náisiúnta Spóirt de 270 bonn a bhaint amach, le haird anois á díriú ar Athbhreithniú Chórais Thimthriall Phárais
- An méid is mó maoinithe riamh tríd an Scéim Scórála Idirnáisiúnta (€4.4m) chun maoiniú aonair a thabhairt do lúthchleasaithe agus foirne
Inniu d’fhógair an tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, Catherine Martin TD, agus an tAire Stáit don Spórt agus Corpoideachas, Thomas Byrne TD, maoiniú bliaintúil de €25m, an méid is mó riamh, atá le hinfheistiú sa Spórt Ardfheimíochta tríd Spórt Éireann sa bhliain 2024.
Seo an leibhéal is airde infheistíochta Spóirt Ardfheidhmíochta riamh, idir bhliain aonair agus timthriall Oilimpeach/Parailimpeach, agus léiríonn sé céim mhór chun tosaigh chuig na haidhmeanna infheistíochta leagtha amach sa Pholasaí Náisiúnta Spóirt 2018-2027. Is méadú suntasach é ar an €59m a infheistíodh i dtimthriall Tóiceo, le hos cionn €89m infheistithe idir 2021 agus 2024, rud a léiríonn tiomantas an Rialtais i leith dul chun chin fadtéarmach agus inbhuanaithe a sheachadadh.
Dúirt tAire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, Catherine Martin TD:
“Tá áthas orm go bhfuil fealsúnacht na Straitéise Spóirt Ardfheidhmíochta tugtha le fios sa dul chun chin straitéiseach atá bainte amach ag Spórt Éireann le linn timthriaill Phárais. Baineann luthchleasaithe leas anois as deontais níos mó agus ilbhliantúla faoin Scéim Scórála Idirnáisiúnta, agus léiríonn an tacaíocht airgeadais agus seirbhíse leanúnach a fhaigheann lúthchleasaithe ar scor cur chuige Spórt Éireann atá dírithe ar an duine aonair agus nach bhfuil ar fáil aon áit eile ar domhan sa Spórt Ardfheidhme. Tá a fhios agam go raibh na tacaíochtaí seo, go háirithe maoiniú Rialtais ilbhliantúil, á lorg ag lúthchleasaithe. Rinne an Rialtas beart de réir briathair agus feicimid anois go soiléir na deathorthaí atá le baint as. Tá Foireann na hÉireann réidh le héacht a dhéanamh ag Cluichí Phárais agus táimse ag súil go mór leis an ócáid.”
Ag labhairt dó ar Champas Spórt Éireann ag fógra an hinfheistíochta Ardfheidhmíochta, dúirt an tAire Stáit don Spórt agus Corpoideachas, Thomas Byrne TD:
“Leis an maoiniú seo, ar leibhéal nach bhfacthas riamh roimhe seo, léirítear ardléibhéal tacaíochta d’Fhoireann na hÉireann roimh na Cluichí Oilimpeacha agus Parailimpeacha i bPáras i mbliana. Tá infheistíocht phoiblí sa Spórt Ardfheidhmíochta méadaithe ó €14m i 2018 go €25m i mbliana. Léiríonn an méadú suntasach seo thar na blianta tiomantas an Rialtais, i gcomhpháirtíocht le Spórt Eireann, tacú lenár lúthchleasaithe agus iad sa tóir ar an rath ina spóirt.”
Dúirt Stiúrthóir Choistí Náisiúnta Rialaithe agus Ardfheidhmíocht Spóirt le Spórt Éireann, Paul McDermott:
“Tá an Rialtas tar éis méadú suntasach a thabhairt do mhaoiniú Spórt Éireann chun córas Ardfheidhmíochta láidir a thógáil, le Coistí Náisiúnta Rialaithe láidre, rud a thugann muinín dúinn go ndéanfaidh Cónaidhm Oilimpeach na hÉireann agus Cumann Parailimpeach na hÉireann an beart dá lúthchleasaithe i bPáras an samhradh beag seo. Táimid ag súil go mór leis an mbliain atá amach romhainn, ag obair lenár bpáirtnéirí agus ag tacú leo chun an infheistíocht seo a choimeád ionas gur féidir le lúthchleasaithe Éireannacha a gcuid talainne agus tréanoibre a thaispeáint ar an ardán is mó.”
Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Spórt Éireann, an Dr. Úna May:
“Léiríonn an méid is mó maoinithe riamh i mbliana agus le linn an timthriaill seo tiomantas leanúnach Spórt Éireann macasamhail a dhéanamh ar an díogras a thaispeánann na lúthchleasaithe agus foirne a chaitheann geansaí na hÉireann go calma. Cé go bhfuil príomhbhéim na hardfheidhmíochta i Spórt Éireann leagtha ar fhorbairt fhadtéarmach an chórais, táimid muiníneach go bhfuil an tacaíocht seo tar éis Foireann na hÉireann a neartú sa chaoi agus gur féidir leo a ndícheall a dhéanamh agus taitneamh a bhaint as an eispéaras i bPáras.”
Nótaí d’Eagarthóirí:
I mbliain iontach don Spórt Ardfheidhme, baineadh amach 99 bonn ag mórchomórtais idirnáisiúnta sa bhliain 2023*. I dtimthriall Phárais go dtí seo tá os cionn 260 bonn buaite, rud a chuireann Éire ar an mbóthar cuí chun sprioc an Pholasaí Náisiúnta Spóirt de 270 bonn a bhaint amach. Léiríonn an dul chun cinn suntasach ó foilsíodh an Straitéis Ardfheidhmíochta Spóirt 2021-2032 uaillmhian agus tiomantas Spórt Éireann i leith córas láidir a fhorbairt do lúthchleasaithe Éireannacha ag léibhéal na hEorpa agus leibhéal an Domhain.
Tugann Aonad Ardfheimíochta Spórt Éireann maoiniú agus tacaíocht do Choistí Náisiúnta Rialaithe i seachadadh a gcuid clár Ardfheidhme. Áisíonn na cláir seo uaillmhianta lúthchleasaithe agus foireann a bhaint amach agus craobh a shroichint agus boinn a bhuachan ag léibhéil Eorpach, Domhanda, Oilimpeach agus Parailimpeach.
Leanann an dlúthchomhoibriú ar aghaidh idir Spórt Éireann agus Cónaidhm Oilimpeach na hÉireann agus Cumann Parailimpeach na hÉireann, le hInstitiúd Spórt Éireann in úsáid mar Pháirtnéir Seachadadh Tacaíochta Feidhmiúcháin d’Fhoireann na hÉireann. Idir 2021-2024, tá €3,195,000 infheistithe ag Spórt Éireann i g Cónaidhm Oilimpeach na hÉireann, ina measc €850,000 chun tacú le costais a bhaineann leis na Cluichí Oilimpeacha 2024 i bPáras. Do Chumann Parailimpeach na hÉireann, tá €2,813,000 tugtha sa timthriall seo, ina measc €800,000 do Chluichí Parailimpeacha 2024.
Éilíonn nádúr iomaíoch, idirnáisiúnta na hArdfeidhmíochta sa spórt feabhas leanúnach agus tá Athbhreithniú Chórais ar bun cheana féin ag Spórt Éireann do thimthriall Phárais. Tabharfaidh an próiseas seo léargas ar dhul chun cinn agus éachtaí na hÉireann ó 2021, mar aon le tacú leis an aithrú béime go timthriall Los Angeles.
Tá Oiliúint Ardfheidhmíochta fós mar thosaíocht straitéiseach agus rinne Spórt Éireann infheistíocht de beagnach €1m, a thacaigh le hearcaíocht, coinneáil agus oiliúint chóiseálaithe. Déanfar infheistíocht de €1.5m sa bhliain 2024. Tá sé mar aidhm ag Spórt Éireann feabhas a fheiceáil i ndeiseanna fostaíochta, méadú i líon na gcóisteálaithe baineann, agus oiliúint agus meantóireacht aonair dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh buaicphointí a ngairmeacha a bhaint amach.
Tugadh isteach clármhaoiniú ardfheidhmíochta ilbhliantúil do thimthriall Phárais, rud a ligeann do Choistí Náisiúnta Rialaithe pleanáil níos fear a dhéanamh dá gcláir le cinnteacht maidir le tacaíocht ó Spórt Éireann. I mbliana déanfar infheistíocht de €10.8m i 19 gCoiste Náisiúnta Rialaithe, agus leanfar leis an maoiniú ilbhliantúil seo i dtimthriall Los Angeles ó 2025-2028.
I 2024, déanfaidh Spórt Éireann €4.4m a infheistiú faoin Scéim Scórála Idirnáisiúntsa. Seo an méid is mó go dtí seo, agus tacóidh sé le 123 lúthchleasaí i 16 spórt, leis an ngradam Pódiaim is airde bronnta ar 33 lúthchleasaí. Is sochmhainn ar leith é rochtain ar Champas Spórt Éireann, atá ag fás, do lúthchleasaithe ardfheidhme Éireannacha, ag tairiscint scoth na n-áiseanna agus seirbhísí i dtimpeallacht tacaíoch.
*Is eard is bonn ag mórchomórtais idirnáisiúnta ann ná bonn a bhuaitear ag leibhéal sinsir nó neamhshinsir (e.g. Óige, Sóisear, faoi-21, &rl.), ag Craobh na hEorpa, Craobh an Domhain, na Cluichí Oilimpeacha nó na Cluichí Parailimpeacha ag Coistí Náisiúnta Rialaithe agus lúthchleasaithe atá maoinithe don Ardfheidhmíocht ag Spórt Éireann. D’fhéadfadh bonn ó Chluichí Ceannais Chorn Domhanda atá mar mhacasamhail Chraobh an Domhain a bheith san áireamh.