€850k for AAI in Government Covid-19 Resilience Funding
AAI to get €850 in Covid-19 Resilience Funding
Monday November 2nd 2020
Athletics Ireland Release
Minister Chambers added: “Sport has demonstrated its resilience throughout the ongoing pandemic. It is important that this resilience continues into the weeks and months ahead as we look to emerge from this crisis. The funding announced today will assist our sporting organisations and clubs in getting everyone active and keeping them active. This has never been more important and is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. As we look to the future, it will ensure our high performance athletes and teams are as well prepared as possible ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Similarly, it is vital that sports organisations are ready to return to activity as soon as public health circumstances allow. ”
Athletics Ireland CEO, Hamish Adams said: "On behalf of Athletics Ireland I wish to personally thank the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media, Catherine Martin TD and the Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jack Chambers TD for this much needed funding. All sport is suffering at this time and this significant investment by the State will ensure that we continue to deliver programmes that continue to support the health and well being of our nation."
Key to the schemes is support of grassroots across the country through schemes delivered through Sport Ireland’s network of Local Sports Partnerships and through National Governing Bodies. Approximately €20 million will benefit thousands of clubs through the various schemes.
Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, commented: “The funding being allocated today will provide relief for funded bodies and clubs. It will provide much needed financial stability to the entire sector and has given organisations the confidence to continue trading through these difficult times. The funding recognises the wider economic and social impact of sport and the significant costs arising from the real threat of insolvency to sporting bodies. The needs of the disability sector were specifically addressed with a dedicated group being established to examine any particular issues arising during the Covid-19 pandemic; this has been recognised in our funding allocations. While the circumstances are unfortunate, Sport Ireland’s investment in 2020 is the largest ever investment package for sport. The recent budget announcement by the Ministers has reinforced that sense of confidence that support is available and we look forward to working with our funded bodies to address their needs in 2021.”
It has been recognised that the changing environment of restrictions has resulted in uncertainty and difficulty in planning for National Governing Bodies. This has been taken into consideration by Sport Ireland with funds being ring-fenced specifically to the address this issue.
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, said: “The initial schemes announced in June were designed to support Organisations with Covid-19 related losses in 2020. However, having engaged with our funded bodies, we understand that the current Level 5 restrictions present additional challenges. As such, we are ring-fencing finances to address any immediate needs that may arise in the sector in the coming weeks. Sport has shown itself to be incredibly resilient throughout the Covid-19 restrictions having made a critical contribution to Irish life with more people being active than ever before. Through exemptions put in place by Government, we have been able to follow high performance and professional athletes and teams, which has provided a welcome lift to the nation. We look forward to working with the sector in the challenging weeks and months ahead, and will continue to provide ongoing support.”
Download Covid-19 Funding Allocation
Notes on Funding Schemes:
National Governing Body Resilience Fund
20 National Governing Bodies will be supported with in excess of €5 million to offset 2020 losses. Broadly, this funding encompasses the loss of income from events, ticket sales, sponsorship, affiliation & membership fees, courses and services and the additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols.
| Total NGB Funding Allocations: | |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Total € |
| Gaelic Games - GAA, LGFA, Camogie, GAA Handball | 30,795,000* |
| Irish Rugby Football Union | 18,000,000 |
| Football Association of Ireland | 13,000,000 |
| Golf Ireland / CGI | 2,730,000 |
| Cricket Ireland | 1,498,500 |
| Gymnastics Ireland | 1,380,000 |
| Basketball Ireland | 1,157,500 |
| Horse Sport Ireland | 1,040,000 |
| Tennis Ireland | 950,000 |
| Athletics Ireland | 805,000 |
| Swim Ireland | 780,000 |
| Irish Sailing | 650,000 |
| Irish Athletic Boxing Association | 645,000 |
| Cycling Ireland | 533,000 |
| Badminton Ireland | 369,000 |
| Hockey Ireland | 240,500 |
| Triathlon Ireland | 235,500 |
| Rowing Ireland | 149,000 |
| Irish Martial Arts Commission | 120,000 |
| National Community Games | 110,000 |
| Archery Ireland | 101,000 |
| Student Sport Ireland | 95,000 |
| Irish Orienteering Association | 77,000 |
| Volleyball Ireland | 71,500 |
| Irish Underwater Council | 70,000 |
| Fencing Ireland | 59,000 |
| Motor Cycling Ireland | 50,000 |
| Irish Surfing Association | 50,000 |
| Bowling League of Ireland | 50,000 |
| Canoeing Ireland | 48,000 |
| ONAKAI | 40,000 |
| Pitch and Putt Ireland | 39,000 |
| Irish Squash | 38,000 |
| Racquetball Association of Ireland | 33,000 |
| Special Olympics Ireland | 348,000 |
| IWA Sport | 194,000 |
| Vision Sports Ireland | 97,500 |
| Irish Judo Association | 24,000 |
| Irish Ice Hockey Association | 20,000 |
| Rugby League Ireland | 19,000 |
| Bol Chumann na hEireann | 12,500 |
| Totals | 76,724,500 |
Notes on Funding Schemes:
Club Resilience Fund
The Club Resilience Fund supports Sports Clubs that find themselves in need of assistance due to Covid-19. NGBs could elect to apply for funding directly on behalf of affiliated Clubs. Alternatively, NGBs provided an estimated level of support required for their club network and propose to run a Covid-19 Club Support Grant Scheme directly.
It is recognised that any of the challenges faced by Governing Bodies are replicated across their club network with income from affiliation & membership fees, events, competition, coaching courses and ancillary services all reduced. The additional costs arising from the implementation of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols have also had a significant impact on most club activities where the sharing of equipment, facilities and resources is common place.
Sport Ireland will not fund Clubs, Affiliates, Provinces or Branches directly and funding will be accessed through programmes established by each of the National Governing Bodies in receipt of funding.
| Breakdown of NGB Funding Allocations: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Scheme Two | Scheme Three | Scheme Four | Total |
| Golf Ireland | - | 2,700,000 | 30,000 | 2,730,000 |
| Cricket Ireland | 1,109,000 | 197,500 | 192,000 | 1,498,500 |
| Gymnastics Ireland | 270,000 | 1,000,000 | 110,000 | 1,380,000 |
| Basketball Ireland | 550,000 | 600,000 | 7,500 | 1,157,500 |
| Horse Sport Ireland | - | 1,000,000 | 40,000 | 1,040,000 |
| Tennis Ireland | 150,000 | 800,000 | - | 950,000 |
| Athletics Ireland | - | 590,000 | 215,000 | 805,000 |
| Swim Ireland | 100,000 | 500,000 | 180,000 | 780,000 |
| Irish Sailing | 100,000 | 550,000 | - | 650,000 |
| Irish Athletic Boxing Association | 145,000 | 500,000 | - | 645,000 |
| Cycling Ireland | 283,000 | - | 250,000 | 533,000 |
| Badminton Ireland | 75,000 | 294,000 | - | 369,000 |
| Hockey Ireland | 71,000 | 169,500 | - | 240,500 |
| Triathlon Ireland | 83,000 | 100,000 | 52,500 | 235,500 |
| Rowing Ireland | 90,000 | 32,000 | 27,000 | 149,000 |
| Irish Martial Arts Commission | - | 120,000 | - | 120,000 |
| National Community Games | 60,000 | 50,000 | - | 110,000 |
| Archery Ireland | 15,000 | 62,000 | 24,000 | 101,000 |
| Student Sport Ireland | - | - | 95,000 | 95,000 |
| Irish Orienteering Association | - | - | 77,000 | 77,000 |
| Volleyball Ireland | - | 21,500 | 50,000 | 71,500 |
| Irish Underwater Council | - | 70,000 | - | 70,000 |
| Fencing Ireland | - | 59,000 | - | 59,000 |
| Motor Cycling Ireland | 50,000 | - | - | 50,000 |
| Irish Surfing Association | 50,000 | - | - | 50,000 |
| Bowling League of Ireland | - | 50,000 | - | 50,000 |
| Canoeing Ireland | - | 48,000 | - | 48,000 |
| ONAKAI | - | 40,000 | - | 40,000 |
| Pitch and Putt Ireland | - | 39,000 | - | 39,000 |
| Irish Squash | - | 28,000 | 10,000 | 38,000 |
| Racquetball Association of Ireland | - | 33,000 | - | 33,000 |
| Special Olympics Ireland | - | - | 348,000 | 348,000 |
| IWA Sport | - | - | 194,000 | 194,000 |
| Vision Sports Ireland | - | - | 97,500 | 97,500 |
| Irish Judo Association | - | 24,000 | - | 24,000 |
| Irish Ice Hockey Association | 20,000 | - | - | 20,000 |
| Rugby League Ireland | 9,000 | 10,000 | - | 19,000 |
| Bol Chumann na hEireann | - | 12,500 | - | 12,500 |
Sports Innovation Fund
NGBs, LSPs and other funded bodies were invited to apply for funding under this scheme.
Funding aims specifically to promote and develop new programmes and projects that can advance sport and physical activity in the post-Covid-19 public health era. Collaboration between sports organisations is encouraged; reference to the National Sports Policy is essential.
Restart & Renewal Fund
Scheme four – LSP small grants €1.9m supporting over 1600 clubs, dedicated funding for Disability and Older Adults, Broad range of Innovative and restart projects supported through LSPs/NGBs.
A Sports Restart and Renewal Fund of up to €5 million has been made available to support four primary focus areas:
1) An LSP Led Small Grants Scheme
2) A Disability Sport Support Scheme
3) Older Adults
4) A Sports Innovation Fund
LSP Small Grant Scheme
Through this scheme, Local Sports Partnerships were encouraged to operate a local scheme for small clubs and community groups similar to the national club scheme (Scheme Three). These schemes provide an additional mechanism to support community groups & clubs who may not be affiliated to a national organisation or recognised National Governing Body but provide a vital local service.
The primary aim of the grants is to cover the costs associated with implementing Covid-19 hygiene and social distancing protocols. There is a €1,500 limit on this grant scheme and only one application is accepted per club. The club grant scheme is designed and intended to support return to sporting activities only.
Disability Sport Support Scheme
In recognition of the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on people with a disability, Sport Ireland ring-fenced a proportion of the Scheme to directly target the disability sport sector.
A specific Disability Sport Working Group was established to identify & quantify the unique financial & sporting challenges for organisations delivering in this sector.
The Working Group was comprised of representatives from Special Olympics Ireland, IWA Sport, Vision Sports Ireland & Paralympics Ireland. Disability focused programmes in mainstream Governing Bodies and the broader sports and physical activity sector were represented by both CARA and the LSP Network.
Older Adults
Funding will be provided to Age & Opportunity and Ireland Active to deliver projects for older adults.
| Local Sports Partnership Small Grant Scheme | ||
|---|---|---|
| LSP Name | Number of Clubs Funded | Total € |
| Carlow LSP | 32 | 33,225.00 |
| Cavan LSP | 59 | 70,393.78 |
| Clare LSP | 75 | 70,276.38 |
| Cork LSP | 155 | 174,781.00 |
| Donegal LSP | 73 | 90,648.06 |
| Dublin City LSP | 90 | 94,065.00 |
| Dun Laoghaire Rathdown LSP | 36 | 42,925.00 |
| Galway LSP | 101 | 126,036.73 |
| Kerry LSP | 59 | 74,921.83 |
| Kildare LSP | 44 | 48,509.42 |
| Kilkenny LSP | 18 | 17,797.29 |
| Laois LSP | 35 | 46,570.23 |
| Leitrim LSP | 29 | 34,650.68 |
| Limerick LSP | 94 | 89,126.00 |
| Longford LSP | 39 | 40,422.53 |
| Louth LSP | 80 | 102,247.05 |
| Mayo LSP | 60 | 75,450.00 |
| Meath LSP | 118 | 139,195.48 |
| Monaghan LSP | 41 | 55,918.83 |
| Offaly LSP | 44 | 47,995.96 |
| Roscommon LSP | 24 | 29,433.74 |
| Sligo LSP | 52 | 68,776.77 |
| South Dublin LSP | 42 | 55,898.00 |
| Tipperary LSP | 74 | 88,992.84 |
| Waterford LSP | 55 | 67,081.32 |
| Westmeath LSP | 44 | 52,981.25 |
| Wexford LSP | 45 | 45,148.00 |
| Wicklow LSP | 19 | 22,298.83 |
| Total | 1,637 | 1,905,767 |
| Local Sports Partnerships & Participation Sports Innovation Projects | |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Total € |
| Carlow | 49,000 |
| Cavan | 23,400 |
| Cork | 64,500 |
| Donegal | 15,000 |
| Dun Laoghaire Rathdown | 15,000 |
| Galway | 15,000 |
| Kerry | 20,645 |
| Kilkenny | 19,370 |
| Laois | 65,800 |
| Limerick | 10,000 |
| Longford | 12,000 |
| Mayo | 13,400 |
| Meath | 15,000 |
| Monaghan | 8,000 |
| Offaly | 10,000 |
| Roscommon | 4,220 |
| Sligo | 18,600 |
| Tipperary | 17,045 |
| Waterford | 35,345 |
| Wicklow | 18,580 |
| Age and Opportunity | 40,000 |
| Ireland Active | 75,000 |
| Totals | 564,905 |
Commentary
'The devil is in the detail' - We await details of how Athletics Ireland will allocate it's funding, particularly the €215k under Scheme 4. Clubs may also be eligible for LSP (Local Sports Partnership) funding, under their Small Grant Scheme which "cover the costs associated with implementing Covid-19 hygiene and social distancing protocols. There is a €1,500 limit on this grant scheme and only one application is accepted per club. The club grant scheme is designed and intended to support return to sporting activities only."
Cork Local Sports Partnership was allocated €175k under this heading, while Cork LSP was also allocated an additional €64.5k, under "Local Sports Partnerships & Participation Sports Innovation Projects"
Cork County Board will, in the next few days, be in contact with both AAI and CLSP, to ascertain what funding will be available to Cork County Board and it's member clubs.
