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National Sports Policy Framework
Public Consultation Paper November 2016
Consultation on National Sports Policy Framework Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
Page 1
Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4
2. How to submit your views ....................................................................................................................... 6
3. Contribution of Sport .............................................................................................................................. 7
4. Participation ............................................................................................................................................ 9
5. High Performance ................................................................................................................................. 15
6. Local and Regional Facilities .................................................................................................................. 18
7. National Sports Campus ........................................................................................................................ 21
8. Governance ........................................................................................................................................... 27
9. Coaching ................................................................................................................................................ 30
10. Volunteer engagement ......................................................................................................................... 31
11. Safety in sport ....................................................................................................................................... 33
12. Integrity of sport and international influence ....................................................................................... 35
13. Sport in a cross-sectoral context ........................................................................................................... 38
14. Outdoor recreation ............................................................................................................................... 41
15. Sports Tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 43
16. Financing Irish Sport .............................................................................................................................. 46
17. Measuring the impact of sport .............................................................................................................. 49
Appendix 1 - Trends in participation levels in sport 2007-2015 ...................................................................... 50
Appendix 2 – Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Performances by Team Ireland .......................................... 52
Appendix 3 - Breakdown of high performance expenditure 2006-2015 ........................................................ 55
Appendix 4 - Athletes and teams funded through Sport Ireland’s International Carding Scheme 2016 ........ 56
Appendix 5 - Allocations by the Sports Capital Programme 2014-2015 by sport ........................................... 60
Appendix 6 - Usage figures for National Sports Campus Facilities .................................................................. 62
References ....................................................................................................................................................... 63
Consultation on National Sports Policy Framework Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
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FOREWORD BY MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND SPORT
I am very pleased to publish this consultation document on the first National Sports Policy
Framework in 20 years. Sport is an important part of the daily lives of Irish people and has a
key role across many policy areas of Irish society. It is imperative that we continue to
recognise the crucial role that sport plays in Ireland and the benefits that investment in
sport has economically, socially and on the health of the general population.
The new policy will consider what should be the priorities for Government investment in
sport. There will always be competing demands for Government resources from different
sectors and we need to ensure that future funding for sport is targeted at the right
interventions and that we have the appropriate balance of funding across a range of areas
from participation to high performance.
This is an exciting time for Irish sport. There has been significant change in the last number
of years with the establishment of Sport Ireland, with the enormous strides that have been
made in the development of the National Sports Campus and through investment under the
Sports Capital Programme.
It is vital that all stakeholders involved in Irish sport have their say in the development of
this new policy. You are the leaders who work tirelessly to champion the importance of
sport in Irish life; who drive for greater participation; who strive for higher wins. I look
forward to hearing your views and to working closely with you, as we define the strategic
direction and adopt a new National Sports Policy Framework for the years ahead.
Shane Ross TD
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
Consultation on National Sports Policy Framework Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
Page 3
FOREWORD BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM AND SPORT
There is a lot to be proud of in Irish sport. There are many excellent facilities and
programmes in place around the country to encourage increased participation in
recreational sport and to support our high performance athletes who continue to do us
proud on the international stage. The work of Sport Ireland, the National Governing Bodies
of Sport, the Local Sports Partnerships and the huge number of volunteers involved in sport
is invaluable and the Government is strongly supportive of their work.
However, there are also many challenges facing sport and the new National Sports Policy
Framework provides an opportunity for all of us involved in Irish sport to address these
challenges and put in place the best possible structures to support sport across all areas.
Recent events have highlighted the need to maintain public confidence in all state funded
bodies and governance will form a key part of the new National Sports Policy Framework.
While huge strides have been made in increasing the levels of participation over the last
decade, there are continuing challenges around gender, social, age and disability gradients
in participation. There are also worrying trends in drop-off points in participation by
children and young people which we need to consider.
We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport at all levels
from early childhood right up to the highest elite level. The new sports policy also gives us
an opportunity for a more joined-up approach to sport across Government from education
to health to tourism. I am very interested in hearing the opinions, views and ideas that you
the stakeholders have about the future shape of Irish Sports Policy and how we can deliver
the very best for sport in Ireland over the coming years.
Patrick O’Donovan TD
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport
Consultation on National Sports Policy Framework Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
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1. Introduction
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD and the Minister of State for
Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD are developing a new National Sports Policy to
provide a framework for sport in Ireland over the next ten years and to set the agenda for
Sport Ireland. The National Sports Policy Framework will address a range of topics relevant
to sport and the challenges and opportunities for sport in the coming years. The sport
sector is recognised as having positive economic, social, cultural and health benefits both for
individuals and broader society. The National Sports Policy Framework will set out where
the focus of Government spending in sport will be and the wider cross-sectoral role of sport
in the economy, education, health, tourism and other areas.
The Ministers’ high-level goal for sport is to contribute to a healthier and more active society
by promoting sports participation and by supporting high performance sport and the
provision of facilities. Government funding for sport is provided through the Department of
Transport, Tourism and Sport which directly administers and funds the Sports Capital and
Local Authority Swimming Pool Programmes and allocates funding to Sport Ireland to deliver
its functions.
Sport Ireland is a Government Agency established on 1 October 2015. It replaced the Irish
Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority and took on the
functions previously performed by the Council and the Authority. Sport Ireland has
responsibility for the development of Irish sport, including responsibility for such matters as:
- the development of strategies relating to participation in sport;
- supporting elite athletes in achieving excellence in sport;
- facilitating standards of good conduct, fair play and the elimination of doping in
sport;
- the development of the National Sports Campus;
- the management and operation of the National Sports Campus;
- the development of guidelines and codes of conduct promoting best practice for the
protection of children in sport; and
- the development of coaches and tutors at all levels in sport.
There are currently 65 National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) which, along with their
member clubs and affiliates, manage and administer organised sport in Ireland. They train
and deploy coaches, organise representative level sport, provide opportunities and
pathways leading from local sports (through their clubs) to national and international
competition, deliver critical national sports programmes in areas such as anti-doping and
the safeguarding of children in sport, and organise and host international sporting events.
Sport Ireland provides funding to NGBs to allow them to carry out the core activities
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required to deliver quality sport in Ireland, including administration, coach education and
hosting and participating at international events. Sport Ireland also supports a national
network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships who coordinate and promote the development of
sport at local level and aim to increase levels of participation.
The National Sports Policy Framework will address the structures, programmes and
infrastructure required for recreational and high performance sport and how best to
facilitate and support the achievement of sport objectives over the next ten years.
Consultation process
The purpose of this consultation process is to invite interested parties to submit written
views/observations/suggestions on the future of Irish sport. This public consultation
process, along with the relevant stakeholder engagement, will contribute significantly to the
delivery of a National Sports Policy. As a first step, a consultation day with a range of sports
stakeholders was held on 5 November 2015.
Respondents to this consultation paper, the second step in the process, are invited to
consider questions which have been categorised under the following themes:
Contribution of Sport
Participation
High Performance
Local and Regional Facilities
National Sports Campus
Governance
Coaching
Volunteer engagement
Safety in sport
Integrity of sport and international influence
Sport in a cross-sectoral context
Outdoor recreation
Sports Tourism
Financing Irish Sport
Measuring the impact of sport
It is hoped that the questions posed will aid consideration of the topics covered.
Respondents are not confined to answering the sample questions. Respondents are invited
to offer any other contributions they wish to make.
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2. How to submit your views
Respondents are requested to make their submissions in writing and, where possible, by
email. Respondents are requested to ensure that electronic submissions are furnished in an
unprotected format. Views are requested by Friday, 6 January 2017:
1. by email to [email protected]
or
2. by post to:
Ms Rosalie Quinsey
Sports Policy and Campus Division
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Leeson Lane
Dublin 2
D02 TR60
Confidentiality of Submissions
Contributors are requested to note that it is the Department’s policy to treat all submissions
received as being in the public domain unless confidentiality is specifically requested.
Respondents are, therefore, requested to clearly identify material they consider to be
confidential and to place same in a separate annex to their response, labelled
“confidential”. Where responses are submitted by email, and those emails include
automatically generated notices stating that the content of same should be treated as
confidential, contributors should clarify in the body of their emails as to whether their
comments are to be treated as confidential.
Relevant provisions of Freedom of Information Act 1997 (as amended)
Respondents’ attention is drawn to the fact that information provided to the Department
may be disclosed in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Therefore, should you consider that any information you provide is commercially sensitive,
please identify same, and specify the reason for its sensitivity. The Department will consult
with any potentially affected respondent regarding information identified as sensitive
before making a decision on any Freedom of Information request.
Queries
Any queries regarding this consultation should be made by emailing
[email protected] or by contacting Ms Rosalie Quinsey at 01-6041237.
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3. Contribution of Sport
Sport has a very special place in the hearts and lives of Irish people, whether as participants
or spectators, and it contributes hugely to our society in many ways. It plays a vital role in
contributing to the health and quality of life of the Irish population and supporting the
development of social capital. Sport and sport-related activities also generate a significant
contribution to the Irish economy.
Sport and Health
The positive impact of sport on health and the prevention of illness and disability is widely
recognised and sport has great potential to contribute to a much healthier society. The
health benefits that can be gained from participation in sport are significant, not just for the
individual but also for our health system, with the consequent reduction in the demand on
health services. Participation in sport can improve physical and mental health, safeguard
against a number of diseases and illnesses and develop a better all-round quality of life.
Social role of sport
The social impact of sport is very important and has been a key element in the formulation
of sport policy. Sport can teach participants important life-skills such as teamwork,
discipline and leadership which can educate children and young people and enhance
employability. Sport can also play an important role in tackling some of the social
challenges faced by society, including social exclusion and anti-social behaviour. Sport gets
people involved and invested in their community through membership and participation in
sports clubs and attendance at sporting events, whether in the community or at large-scale
sporting events. Sport can further enhance the integration of new communities by bringing
people of all backgrounds together in an inclusive atmosphere.
Economic value of sport
The sport sector is a significant contributor to the economy, a contribution which includes
sports tourism, ticket sales, subscriptions and the cost of playing sport, together with the
purchase of sports equipment and merchandise, and the economic value of time given by
volunteers.
The 2010 report on the Assessment of Economic Impact of Sport in Ireland1 found that:
Irish households spend a total of €1.9 billion on sport and sport‐related goods and
services, equivalent to 2% of the overall value of consumer spending in the Irish
economy;
Sport‐related spending contributes €1.8 billion to the Irish economy value‐added,
equivalent to 1.4% of economy‐wide value‐added or GDP;
Sport and sport‐related activities support over 38,000 full‐time equivalent jobs, or
over 2% of the overall level of employment in Ireland; and
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Sport‐related volunteering activity is estimated to have an economic value
equivalent to between €322 million and €582 million annually.
While these figures relate to 2008, the report highlights the significant contribution
provided by sport to the Irish economy. A 2012 study commissioned by the European
Commission, “EU study on the Contribution of Sport to Economic Growth and
Employment”2, found that sport contributed €2.4 billion to the Irish economy whilst
supporting 40,532 jobs.
Questions for consideration
How can sport play a more effective role as part of the wider government strategies in
the following areas?
Combatting physical health conditions
Addressing mental health issues
Enhancing social inclusion and integration
Contributing to economic growth
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4. Participation
Participation in sport should be an enjoyable experience for all ages and there is a need to
strike a balance between enjoyment and competitiveness, particularly in relation to children
and young people’s participation. It is important that children are taught the necessary
fundamental skills at an early age to allow them to participate in sport and move easily
between different sports if they wish as they get older. There is also a need for policy to
take account of Ireland’s changing demography with a significantly ageing and more
ethnically and culturally diverse population.
The key priority for government investment in sport has been to promote maximum
participation in sport as everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sport
regardless of ability, age, disability, ethnic background, gender or sexual orientation. Sport
Ireland has in place policies on equality in recreational sport and advocates that no one
should be discriminated against within sport on any grounds of gender. In developing the
National Sports Policy Framework, the Department will engage with Sport Ireland on what
further actions it can take, separately and working alongside the National Governing Bodies
of Sport, to promote equality in sport, including gender equality and the promotion of LGBT
inclusion in sport.
Sport Ireland expenditure on participation
Sport Ireland, the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), the Local Sports Partnerships
(LSPs) and volunteers at community and grassroots level are delivering important
programmes throughout the country to encourage greater participation in sport. The table
and graph overleaf shows details of Sport Ireland’s (previously the Irish Sports Council)
expenditure on participation from 2006-2015.
Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)
Participation† 25.4 33.9 33.7 32.6 31.1 29.1 26.7 25.7 25.0 27.4
Total current expenditure 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3
% of total current expenditure 62% 63% 59% 63% 63% 62% 60% 59% 58% 62%
†These figures do not include administration costs
NOTE: Participation Figure for 2015 includes Dormant Account Funding of €1.795m
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Adult participation in sport
Sport Ireland’s Irish Sports Monitor tracks active and social participation in sport among
adults in Ireland. The most recent full year figures from the Irish Sports Monitor Annual
Report 20153 show that following a number of years of increasing levels of participation in
sport, participation levels have declined slightly since 2013. Adult participation rose from
44.8% in 2011 to 47.2% in 2013, but has since fallen to 45%, which is equivalent to almost
1.6 million Irish adults participating in sport regularly.
The reason suggested for the slight decrease in levels of participation is that it is a reversal of
the trend noticed during the economic downturn i.e. now that the economy is improving
and more people are working additional hours or are returning to work, they have less free
time to participate in sporting activity.
The Irish Sports Monitor highlights continuing challenges around gender, social, age and
disability gradients in participation. Appendix 1 includes graphs on the trends in
participation levels from 2007 to 2015 and a breakdown across some of the gradients.
Key findings from the 2015 ISM Annual Report:
o Approximately 1.6 million Irish adults aged 16+ regularly participate in sport and
exercise.
o Personal exercise is the most popular activity (13.7%) with running (8.2%),
swimming (8%), cycling (5.5%) and soccer (4.8%) the next most popular. Soccer,
Gaelic football and swimming are the most common sports played with children.
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Participation Expenditure €m
Total current expenditure on sport €m
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o Participation levels have declined for both genders with a larger decline among
males resulting in a narrower gender gap in participation.
o While some sports participated in on an individual basis show an increase in
participation (e.g. gym-based activities such as personal exercise and Pilates), the
proportion participating in team-based sports has declined. The extent of people
dropping out from team sports is much higher than for sports participated in on an
individual basis.
o Declines in sports participation are more pronounced among older individuals as
well as those living in lower income households and lower socio-economic groups.
This is leading to a widening social gradient.
o Walking remains the most popular physical activity among all aged over 35 years
old, with more people participating in it than in all forms of sport combined.
o There is a narrowing in the gender divide that exists in cycling for transport.
o 30.2% of adults are meeting the National Physical Activity Guidelines4 through
sport and recreational walking.
Children’s and young people’s participation in sport
The participation levels of Irish children and young people in sport and physical activity are
low in comparison to other countries. The 2010 Children’s Sport Participation and Physical
Activity study5 looked at physical activity, physical education and sports participation levels
of children and youth in Ireland. The study found that only 19% of primary school children
and 12% of post-primary school children are reaching the recommended levels of physical
activity. Girls are less likely than boys to meet the recommended physical activity levels and
the likelihood of meeting the recommended physical activity levels decreases with age.
The ‘Keeping them in the Game’ report6 looked at participation in sport and recreational
exercise from school years through to adulthood and showed the challenges that exist in
keeping people involved in sport across the different life stages. The report highlights the
growing evidence that links low levels of physical activity to poor health and focuses on why
people take up and drop out from sport and exercise activities at different life stages.
Roughly one-in-ten active participants at primary school have dropped out of sport by the
first year of second level education and this is higher in the lower socio-economic group.
Another finding of the report which provides support for promoting physical activity in
school and elsewhere is the positive association between sports participation and academic
performance.
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Media and Technology
Media and technology can play a major role in promoting sport both for spectators and
participants. The media can help raise the profile of sports which perhaps traditionally
received less focus e.g. women’s sport, minority sports or non-traditional sports. Many
sports organisations are now also using the power of social media to engage new and
existing participants. The policy of promotion of sport through both traditional and social
media is one which should be embraced, as it can play a vital role in communicating the
benefits of sport and physical activity to a wider audience.
Technology is a huge part of society and is constantly evolving. With the availability of
health, fitness, sport and physical activity apps, technology can encourage participation in
sport and physical activity. New technology can play a role in increasing participation by
allowing users to identify opportunities to take part, connect with other participants,
monitor individual progress, share success and set new goals and challenges to aim for.
There is a need to ensure that sport can adapt to changing technology and look at the
potential of media and technology to encourage increased participation in sport.
Sport vs Physical Activity
Sport can have different meanings for different groups and individuals. There are many
types of sport varying from recognised sports governed by national bodies to new emerging
sporting activities. Similarly there are different ways to participate in sport – some people
like to participate in competitive sport while others enjoy the social and/or health aspects of
participation but do not wish to take part competitively. Sport Ireland is responsible for
increasing participation in recreational sport at national and local level and participation
programmes are delivered through the NGBs and the network of LSPs around the country,
including programmes aimed at specific target groups, namely women, older people,
disadvantaged communities and people with a disability.
In relation to the wider concept of physical activity, encompassing sport and other activities,
the first National Physical Activity Plan7 was published on 14 January 2016. The Plan was
developed by a cross-sectoral working group which was co-chaired by the Department of
Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health. This structure was chosen in
recognition of the cross-cutting nature of physical activity, where policy on sport, health,
education, children, environment and transport all have a key role to play. One of the aims
of the National Physical Activity Plan is to strengthen the link between the development of
play policy in early childhood and overall physical activity policy in order to ensure a joined
up approach to physical activity from childhood through to adult life.
The overarching target of the National Physical Activity Plan is to increase the proportion of
the population, across each life stage, undertaking regular physical activity by 1% per annum
in the period up to 2020. Targets have been set for the population groups of children,
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adults and older people. A cross-sectoral group has been established to oversee
implementation of the National Physical Activity Plan. The group is being co-chaired by the
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health and also
includes representatives from a number of Government departments and key stakeholders.
Sport forms a key part of the National Physical Activity Plan and a number of specific sport
actions are included, but the Plan also considers other means of physical activity including
recreational walking, active travel and physical education in schools. While the 2015 Irish
Sports Monitor showed that 45% of adults regularly participate in sport, only 30.2% of these
people are classed as highly active, meaning that they are meeting the recommended levels
of physical activity. In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, consideration will
be given to how the Government should best support further increased participation in
recreational sport while taking account of the sport actions in the National Physical Activity
Plan.
It is vital that future sports policy takes account of the trends identified in the Irish Sports
Monitor and other relevant research on participation rates. The National Sports Policy
Framework will consider the trends across the different population groups and sports, the
growth in participation in individual sports, the continuing popularity of recreational walking
and other trends identified to set the future strategic direction for Sport Ireland in the area
of participation.
Questions for consideration
Who should the Government target to increase participation levels in sport – e.g.
get the inactive to start participating; get the active more active; or other targets?
How can the reach and influence of the sports sector be used to get more people
active, especially those who have been inactive for a long time?
How should under-represented groups be targeted in order to narrow the existing
gradients in participation levels across the lifecycle, in particular disability, gender
and social gradients?
What is the scope for collaboration between different sports to promote greater
participation in sport at all levels?
How can support for traditional sports and new emerging sports be balanced with
increasing participation levels?
Can the sports sector provide more support in the delivery of sport in schools?
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How should the drop-off points in participation by children and young people be
addressed?
How should participation in sport be measured?
How should investment in participation be measured?
How can traditional and social media be more effective in promoting sport?
How can the potential of new technology be maximised to increase participation
in sport?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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5. High Performance
The last number of years have been very successful for Irish high performance sport with a
wide range of achievements by Irish athletes and teams at national and international level.
Our elite sportspeople have proven to be great ambassadors both at home and abroad and
fantastic role models for young people. Their performances and achievements can inspire
the next generation by encouraging sports participation at local level.
The most recent example is the performance by Team Ireland at the 2016 Olympic and
Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to 2 medals, the Olympic athletes achieved
16 top ten and 14 top twenty finishes, compared to 14 and 6 respectively in the London
2012 Games. Ireland’s Paralympic athletes won 11 medals at the Rio Games and achieved
22 top eight finishes. A full list of achievements from Rio 2016 is shown at Appendix 2.
Sport Ireland expenditure on High Performance Sport
The table and graph below shows expenditure on High Performance by Sport Ireland
(previously the Irish Sports Council) from 2006 to 2015.
Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)
High Performance † 8.5 11.7 14.8 11.7 11.7 12.3 11.7 11.5 12.9 11.7
Total current expenditure 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3
% of total current expenditure 21% 22% 26% 23% 24% 26% 26% 26% 30% 26%
†These figures do not include administration costs
A breakdown of the High Performance expenditure is included at Appendix 3.
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
High Performance expenditure €m
Total current expenditure on sport €m
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High Performance structure
Sport Ireland is responsible for the improvement of standards in high performance sport.
With the establishment of Sport Ireland, all of the bodies connected with high performance
sport (Irish Institute of Sport, Coaching Ireland and National Sports Campus) are now
embedded in one entity. This presents a real opportunity to deliver a more enhanced and
integrated programme of work in order to achieve greater and more sustained high
performance success.
The Olympic Council of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland are key stakeholders in Irish high
performance sport. Sport Ireland had operational agreements in place with both
organisations for the period 2013-2016. These agreements provide a framework for how
the various interactions between the organisations worked up to and including the 2016 Rio
Games.
It is the aim of the high performance system to ensure that Ireland's performances in elite
international sport improve and to create consistent success at elite level. This is defined as
producing Irish athletes who can reach and compete in the finals at European, World,
Olympic and Paralympic level.
There are two specific funding programmes in place - the High Performance Programme and
the International Carding Scheme, which is the system used by Sport Ireland to provide
income support to elite athletes. In 2016, funding of almost €1.8 million has been provided
to 86 athletes from 14 sports through the International Carding Scheme. A list of all athletes
and teams receiving funding through the International Carding Scheme in 2016 is listed at
Appendix 4.
Performance Planning is the mechanism that Sport Ireland uses to invest in NGBs that have
High Performance Plans. It enables Sport Ireland to determine the medal potential of
individual sports and athletes. It provides the underpinning evidence which enables
investment decisions to be made where resources are targeted at sports best placed to
succeed at international level. It is the basis for the subsequent oversight of investment to
ensure that a return on investment is delivered for public funds. Sport Ireland (and
previously the Irish Sports Council) commissions a review of the high performance process
following each four-year Olympic and Paralympic cycle and the Rio 2016 Review has now
commenced.
As well as the funding programmes, the Institute of Sport at the National Sports Campus
provides support services directly to sports bodies, coaches and athletes, and athletes can
also avail of the world-class training facilities at the National Sports Campus. The Institute
of Sport was established following a key recommendation of the 2005 Athens Review (the
review of the Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004), with a vision of providing
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world leading service to elite Irish athletes. This includes sports science and medicine co-
ordination, athlete career and performance lifestyle support, and elite coach development
and education.
The Institute’s Athlete Career Development Programme provides career management
support to high performance athletes. This support typically involves athletes who are
managing part time employment as well as a full career as a high performance athlete. It
also provides preparation for a post-sport transition to the next career. This programme sits
within the broader Athlete Lifestyle support provision which also encompasses support for
athletes in education and development of personal life skills. The Career Development
Programme has four specific strands that are offered to athletes during their competitive
sport career and a holistic transition support at the point of retirement from sport.
In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, a comprehensive review of the current
high performance system will be carried out to find out if the system is working as
effectively as possible and if there are areas that could be improved. The review will
examine international high performance models and identify if there are best practice
structures that could be applied to the Irish system.
Questions for consideration
What targets should be set for high performance sport e.g. number of medals
won, podium finishes, impact on participation levels, others?
What are the strengths of the current high performance structures i.e. talent
identification and management process for elite athletes, supports for elite
athletes during and post their sporting career etc., and how can these be further
enhanced?
Is the balance right as to the focus of Government spending on the various
elements of high performance (carding scheme, coaching, NGBs, support services
etc.)?
Should the high performance structure be more centralised or be devolved to
individual NGBs and how should the respective roles of the Department, Sport
Ireland and NGBs be defined?
What criteria should be applied when identifying what sports should qualify for
High Performance support? Should the strategy be to fund a wide range of sports
or focus on a smaller number of sports?
What successful international high performance models could Ireland learn from?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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6. Local and Regional Facilities
Government investment in sports facilities, including indoor sports facilities, is provided
primarily through the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) and the Local Authority Swimming
Pool Programme (LASPP). The Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s primary
vehicle for supporting the development of local and regional sports facilities and the
purchase of sports equipment. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned
approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. In
particular, its objectives are to:
assist voluntary and community organisations, NGBs, local authorities, Education and
Training Boards (ETBs) and schools to develop high quality, safe, well-designed,
sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment
to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation
prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities
encourage the multi-purpose use of local, regional and national sports facilities by
clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport
Between 2011 and 2015, a total of almost €134 million was allocated1 under the Sports
Capital Programme for sporting facilities with €31 million allocated in 2012, €40.5 million
provided in 2014, and €41 million in 2015, and a further €21 million made through special
allocations.
These allocations have provided support for more than 2,600 projects nationally. The 2015
programme allocations announced in October 2015 provided funding for more than 40
sports. Almost €35 million was allocated for local projects while just over €6 million was
allocated to non-local projects. The application and assessment process places an emphasis
on rewarding clubs and organisations that share facilities as well as on applications received
from disadvantaged areas. In 2015, €14.5 million was allocated to 305 projects that are
located in or serve CLAR and RAPID areas.
The 2017 Estimates Statement confirmed that a new round of the Sports Capital Programme
will be open for applications in January 2017 with allocations expected later that year.
Allocations by the Sports Capital Programme 2014-2015 by sport* are shown overleaf as a
percentage of overall allocation. A full list of all allocations by sport is included in Appendix
5.
1 These are allocations figures and differ from the payment figures in the Financing Irish Sport section as it can
take grantees several years to draw down grants.
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*Gaelic Games includes Gaelic football (men’s and ladies’), hurling, camogie and handball
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport also administers the Local Authority
Swimming Pool Programme. Under the programme, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million
is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of the provision of new swimming
pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Since 2000, 50 projects have been completed.
Since 2011, there have also been allocations to Local Authority pools for works to improve
energy efficiency and disabled access.
In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, consideration will be given to how
future capital investment in sports facilities can best support both increased participation in
sport and physical activity and support for elite athletes. There is a need to ensure that
future provision of sports facilities avoids a duplication of services and that value for money
is achieved. Issues that will be considered include maximising the use of facilities;
addressing barriers to facility use and accessibility; the balance of funding between local and
regional facilities; better linking programme and capital investment in sports facilities; and
whether there is a need to subsidise the operation of certain publicly funded sports
facilities.
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Questions for consideration
Are any of the terms and conditions of the Sports Capital Programme acting as
barriers to facility development and/or to certain groups accessing funding?
Are there ways to achieve a more joined-up approach to the provision of publicly
funded sports facilities?
How to address barriers to facility use in order to maximise usage, and how to
ensure that sports facilities meet the highest accessibility standards for
participants, spectators and workers?
What should be the balance of funding between local and non-local sports
facilities?
What facilities can best drive increased participation and/or improved
performance and what should be the balance of funding between
facilities/equipment designed to increase participation and those aimed at
improving performance?
How to better link desired outcomes, current programmes and capital investment
in sports facilities?
Should some or all publicly funded sports facilities be self-financing or to what
extent, if any, should the public sector become involved in subsidising the
operation of these facilities?
Should state funding be focused on multi-sport facilities and equipment that can
support a large number of sports?
Should state funding be concentrated on sports that can be participated in for life?
How should the state best help in the provision of facilities/equipment for
minority sports, emerging sports and participation outside of formal club
structures?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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7. National Sports Campus
The National Sports Campus at Abbotstown, Blanchardstown is an important part of
Ireland’s sporting infrastructure. There has been significant progress at the Campus in the
last few years with the development of world-class training facilities where elite athletes
can prepare for national and international competitions. Athletes have access to the
services provided by the Institute of Sport and to a range of world-class facilities at the
National Sports Campus. The development of facilities at the Campus is proceeding on an
incremental basis as funding becomes available.
Funding for the National Sports Campus 2006-2015
Funding 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)
National Sports Campus 2.2 9.0 6.5 6.4 5.5 2.2 5.7 9.8 6.2 31.8
Development of National Sports Campus
The concept of a National Sports Campus located at Abbotstown, Blanchardstown in Dublin
first emerged in the 1999 PriceWaterhouseCooper feasibility study “A Stadium for a New
Century”. In 2000 the then Government adopted the study and decided to proceed with the
development of Sports Campus Ireland. At that time it was also decided to build the
National Aquatic Centre (NAC) as the first element of the Campus. Campus and Stadium
Ireland Development Limited (CSID) was established to progress the Campus Concept. The
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
National Sports Campus Funding
National Sports Campus Funding €m
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NAC, the first element of the Campus, was completed on time and within budget and
opened in March 2003.
The then Government subsequently decided in January 2004 to proceed with the phased
development of a National Sports Campus and CSID was requested to draw up a Phased
Development Programme, associated business case and annual budgets sufficient to deliver
the component elements of a National Sports Campus. After consultation with various
sporting bodies and other stakeholders, CSID drew up a Development Control Plan in
October 2004. The plan set out proposals for the phased development of the National
Sports Campus and estimated the cost at €199 million including VAT. Following
consideration of the Development Control Plan, the then Government decided in November
2005 to proceed with the development of the initial phase of the Sports Campus over a five
year period. Planning permission for the National Sports Campus was secured in 2009.
The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA), formally established on 1
January 2007, prepared revised delivery plans in 2010 that would enable the Project to be
delivered on a phased basis. The revised plans involved an incremental development
commencing with core indoor facilities at a cost of €40.6 million combined with a
partnership approach to developing field sport facilities through the leasing of sites reserved
on Campus for individual sports bodies. In June 2011, the then Government approved these
proposals for the development of the National Sports Campus on an incremental basis.
Current Facilities
The following facilities are currently in place at the National Sports Campus:
National Aquatic Centre
National Horse Sport Arena
National Modern Pentathlon Centre
National Diving Training Centre
High Performance Training Centre
FAI National Training Centre
GAA National Games Development Centre
Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitch facility
Two large multi-sport turf pitches accommodating Gaelic games, football and rugby
Usage of these facilities varies, for example visitor numbers to the National Aquatic Centre
in 2015 were 991,554 and the more recently developed National Horse Sport Arena
recorded 209 bookings/events in 2015. More detail on usage of the National Sports Campus
facilities is included at Appendix 6.
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Significant Projects in the Pipeline
Upcoming significant sports facility developments at the National Sports Campus are
detailed in the table below2.
Name Description Status
National Indoor Arena –Phase 1 World-class indoor training facilities
for a wide range of sports including
athletics, gymnastics, badminton,
volleyball, table tennis, basketball,
fencing and numerous others.
Scheduled for completion
in November 2016
IRFU Field Sport Facilities Rugby pitch development Partnership Development
Agreements in place.
Commencement is linked
with National Indoor
Arena Phase 2 below.
IHA Field Sport Facilities Hockey pitch development Partnership Development
Agreements in place.
National Indoor Arena – Phase
2
Covered Synthetic Pitch facility and
ancillary facilities (such as changing
rooms) designed primarily for rugby,
soccer and GAA, but capable of
accommodating all field sports.
Planning permission
granted. Work on cost
benefit analysis etc. is on-
going.
National Badminton and
Velodrome Training Centre
Training facilities for badminton and
cycling, comprising a 250m cycling
track and 12 badminton courts.
Planning permission
granted.
High Performance Cricket
Facility
High Performance training facility
including 14 grass nets, 90m outfield,
artificial practice area and seating
Funding provided by the
International Cricket
Council and private donor.
Ministerial approval
granted. Work on the
new facility is expected to
start, subject to the
necessary planning
permission, in early 2017.
2 The table addresses the more significant sports facility projects proposed. In terms of minor projects, work
on a National Cross Country Track and Jogging Trail were also completed in 2016.
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While no formal proposal has yet been received in the Department, it is understood that
there is an intention also to propose the development of elite athlete accommodation at
the Campus. Various options and funding possibilities have been mentioned, from the
option of refurbishing existing buildings on the Campus site to cater for elite athletes only,
to the option of constructing a high standard commercial hotel, using private investment,
which would also cater for paying guests.
Reviews
There have been two key reviews of the overall Campus project at 5-year intervals in the
past, leading to approval by Government of the phased development of the project. Now
that the phased delivery plan as approved by Government in 2011 is nearing completion, it
seems timely to conduct another review to determine the further strategic direction for the
Campus project.
Operation and management of the National Sports Campus
A subsidiary of Sport Ireland – NSCDA (Operations) Limited – is responsible for the day-to-
day management and operation of the National Sports Campus sporting facilities. It also
provides building management services for the office accommodation provided to NGBs on
Campus. In addition, the company took over responsibility in 2010 for the day-to-day
operation of Morton Stadium, the National Athletics Stadium in Santry.
An assessment of the operation of the National Sports Campus in terms of its focus and
objectives will be important to determine whether the main focus should be on facilities for
high performance sport and supporting our elite athletes, or on increasing participation in
sport by the general/local population, or as to whether a balance between both objectives
would be most appropriate. A decision on this would present a vision and focus for the
future, and would also be closely connected with the potential financing model choices
available for the Campus.
The development of the National Sports Campus not only constitutes a capital expense, it
also involves significant ongoing costs for the maintenance and operation of Campus
facilities. NSCDA (Operations) Ltd. receives, through Sport Ireland, an annual operational
subsidy towards costs associated with the operation of the National Aquatic Centre and
other Campus facilities. The subsidy provided in 2015 was €1.2 million. While the experience
internationally of similar facilities shows that subsidising by a public authority can generally
be regarded as the norm, it must be considered that the level of subsidy could potentially be
offset by focusing on the revenue which could be generated by the facilities, in particular
from such areas as Aquazone admittance fees for families, gym memberships etc. Greater
clarity on the strategic vision for the National Sports Campus, including the desired focus on
elite usage versus participation, or a mix, will be key also to help determine the desired
balance as between revenue generation and subsidy.
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Campus as the Home of Irish Sport
The National Sports Campus is widely regarded as the home of Irish Sport Administration.
Sports HQ is home to 20 National Governing Bodies including the FAI. Sport Ireland will
move its offices to the National Sports Campus, and a HQ for Special Olympics Ireland was
officially opened in November 2016. Further additional HQ accommodation for other NGBs
is also planned. The Campus Pavilion Building opened in September 2015 and provides
meeting and conference facilities for all NGBs of sport.
Vision for the Future
As it has been five years since the 2011 Government Decision regarding the development
and implementation plan for the National Sports Campus, the National Sports Policy
Framework provides an opportunity to settle a clear vision and underpin a new strategic
decision by Government on the future development of Campus. This will include
considering what the future vision for the Campus should be in terms of whether its primary
focus should be as a high performance facility for elite sport, towards increasing
participation, or finding a viable mix of both that can be accommodated. Consideration will
also be given to opportunities provided by different financing models, consistent with the
chosen vision, and to the appropriate balance to be struck between revenue generation and
subsidisation of the various facilities. Against that backdrop, the National Sports Policy
Framework will reflect on the priorities for the National Sports Campus over the medium
term.
Questions for consideration
What are the views of stakeholders on existing facilities at the National Sports
Campus and their usage? What are the success stories? Are there areas for
improvement?
What are the views of stakeholders on an overall vision for the Campus and where
its primary focus should be, in terms of supporting high performance or increasing
participation or is there a viable balance that can be met and what might that be?
What should be the priorities for the National Sports Campus over the medium
term?
What different models should be considered for financing of Campus facilities, for
example Exchequer funding, borrowings, philanthropy, private sector investment,
sponsorship etc.? What steps might be needed to ensure the appropriate balance
as between sports policy objectives and financing objectives?
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Are there views on the most appropriate model for the development of specific
projects already proposed or anticipated to be proposed (e.g. National Badminton
and Velodrome Training Centre, Athlete Accommodation) and financing for same?
Should there be a stronger focus towards generating revenue from the various
facilities at Campus in order to cover costs and thereby reduce the overall
requirement for subsidy? Are there views on appropriate access/pricing strategies
for the various facilities?
Are there other gaps, challenges or issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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8. Governance
It is vital that the highest standards of governance are in place across all levels of Irish sport
to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency across organisational activities and
support the integrity of sport both at home and abroad. The implementation of good
governance practices in sport has improved significantly in recent years. Sport Ireland has
worked closely with NGBs to provide supports and services with a focus on improving
governance within sports bodies, including support for strategic planning, internal audit and
financial management. There is an established procedure in place for Sport Ireland to
provide support to any particular governing body that encounters difficulties.
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has published a ‘Corporate Governance
Standard for the Civil Service’8 which details the core principles to which Government
Departments and bodies under their aegis adhere. The implementation of the Standard
across the Civil Service presents an opportunity to formally define current arrangements
and seek to strengthen governance across Departments. It is being implemented as a key
part of Civil Service Renewal. In line with this standard, the Department of Transport,
Tourism and Sport published a Corporate Governance Framework9 in April 2016 which sets
out a comprehensive overview of the corporate governance arrangements that exist and
operate within the Department. The framework also provides an overview of the approach
applied in the external governance and oversight of the agencies under the aegis of the
Department including Sport Ireland.
The Department is responsible for the corporate governance of Sport Ireland, and liaises on
an on-going basis with Sport Ireland regarding implementation of its strategy, financial
controls and work programme priorities. The development of the National Sports Policy
Framework provides an opportunity to consider options for oversight of Sport Ireland, as
the State Agency responsible for the delivery of sport policy. This may include options such
as regular reviews of performance, how Sport Ireland manages its relationship with its many
key stakeholders and a standardised approach to budget approval and business planning.
Sport Ireland
As a State Body, Sport Ireland must comply fully with the provisions of the Sport Ireland Act
2015 and with the requirements of the 2009 Department of Finance Code of Practice for the
Governance of State Bodies10, in particular in meeting its statutory obligations and
performance targets. Sport Ireland is also required to ensure all the necessary frameworks,
including: those for risk management, internal audit and the Public Spending Code11 are
fully complied with and that all of its committees conform to the highest standards of
corporate governance.
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Sport Ireland has an important role in governance issues for NGBs and in ensuring that
taxpayers’ money is used in the most effective way and is properly accounted for. However
it is important that NGBs, which are independent entities, have some autonomy in terms of
decision making within their own organisations.
Sport Ireland operates a recognition process for emerging sports/disciplines wishing to
become recognised as a National Governing Body of sport. There is a process for
recognition and criteria that must be met. The applicant should be able to demonstrate
that it is a functioning corporate body, is affiliated with a relevant international
organisation, is operating as the governing authority with rules etc. and has clubs and
memberships around the country.
National Governing Bodies of Sport
The NGBs are central to Irish sport and the achievement of sports policy objectives around
participation, performance and excellence. It is important to recognise that not one size fits
all and NGBs can range from small organisations run by a number of volunteers to large
scale organisations run by full time administrators. However, whatever the size of the
organisation, sports organisations in receipt of public funding should have appropriate
governance structures in place. The important elements of good governance include:
- Integrity
- Fair Procedure, Transparency and Accountability
- Leadership to include defining role of board
- A balanced, skilled and objective board
- Implementation of controls, checks and balances, and
- Engaging with the sporting landscape and stakeholders.
The National Sports Policy Framework will seek to set out governance procedures for Irish
sport. This will include clarifying the roles of the Department, Sport Ireland, NGBs and all
sports bodies in receipt of public funding, and ensuring that appropriate procedures are in
place in Sport Ireland so that all NGBs are audited appropriately with a view to addressing
any governance issues. The policy will consider options to uphold the highest standards of
governance in sport including developing a Governance Code for Sport. Ensuring gender
equality in the governance of sport in Ireland is an important objective and consideration
will be given to how to best ensure women’s involvement in senior positions in sports
leadership including the option to require NGBs to meet a gender balance target.
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Questions for consideration
What best practice measures are already in place or are recommended to be
adopted which help uphold the highest standards of governance in sporting
bodies generally?
What is the appropriate role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
around governance of sporting organisations?
What is the appropriate role of Sport Ireland in terms of governance?
What works well in the current recognition process for national governing bodies
of sport and are there areas for improvement?
What changes are needed to the governance structures in place for sporting
bodies to improve the accountability, fairness and transparency across
organisational activities and the integrity of Irish sport?
What are the views of stakeholders on introducing requirements for gender
balance in NGB leadership?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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9. Coaching Coaching is recognised as critical to the advancement of sport at every level and in every
aspect. Coaching Ireland, which is based at the University of Limerick, is the unit within
Sport Ireland that has the lead role in the development of coaching in Ireland on an all-island
basis. It is responsible for improving the standards of coaches and coaching and developing
coaches and tutors at all levels in sport.
Coaching Ireland works in partnership with the NGBs in the delivery of the Coaching
Development Plan for Ireland (CDPI) within the context of the policies of Sport Ireland and
Sport Northern Ireland and the All Island Coaching Strategy. Within the CDPI is the Coach
Development Framework which comprises of four levels, ranging from an apprentice coach
up to master coach.
Working with its partners Coaching Ireland develops, implements, manages and quality
assures coach certification, accreditation, continuing professional development and
licensing systems on an all-island basis. The role includes highlighting the importance of
quality coaching in developing athletes and providing opportunities for participants.
Sport Ireland expenditure on coaching
The table below shows expenditure on coaching by Sport Ireland (previously the Irish Sports
Council) from 2006-2015.
Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)
Coaching (€m) 1.7 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.9
Total current expenditure on sport 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3
% of total current expenditure 4.2% 3.7% 3.3% 3.7% 2.8% 2.8% 2.9% 2.3% 2.3% 2.0%
Questions for consideration
How can it be ensured that sports coaching is as effective as possible at all levels
and that coaches are given the necessary support to work with a variety of people,
including children, older people and people with disabilities?
How effective are the current coaching structures?
Are there areas within the current coaching structures that could be improved?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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10. Volunteer engagement
Volunteer engagement plays a pivotal role in Irish sport at all levels in addition to
contributing to social and economic development. Volunteering in sport has benefits both
for those volunteering and those who are able to participate in sport because of volunteers.
It can build social inclusion and community cohesion and help develop skills which can be
used in the workplace.
It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 volunteers involved in sport in Ireland
and sport is the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in the country. There are many
different types of volunteers in sport in areas varying from administration to coaching and
ranging from parents volunteering at their local club to administrators at the highest level of
governing bodies. Different types of volunteers with different skills are required for
different roles. A wide range of skills are required across the entire workforce involved in
the administration of Irish sport, whether they are volunteers or paid employees. These
range from ‘hard skills’ such as coaching, administration, media, management, governance
and human resources to ‘soft skills’ such as teamwork, leadership and motivation.
The 2011 Irish Sports Monitor12 found that volunteering increased significantly between
2009 and 2011, with a greater proportion of people getting involved in the provision of
transport and coaching roles. It surmised that the increased free time that many people had
due to increased unemployment and other recessionary effects may have contributed
towards greater social involvement in sporting structures. While levels remained largely
unchanged in 2013, the Irish Sport Monitor Annual Report 2015 shows a slight decrease,
from 13.3% to 12.9%.
The 2010 report on the Assessment of Economic Impact of Sport in Ireland estimated the
value of volunteering in Ireland in 2008 to be between a lower bound estimate (based on
the minimum wage) of €321 million and a higher bound estimate (based on the average
industrial wage) of €582 million. Using the same calculations, the 2013 Irish Sports
Monitor13 estimated that the higher bound estimate for 2013 was over €1.3 billion a year.
Without sports volunteers, there would undoubtedly be fewer sports activities and those
activities would be expensive to produce. This voluntary workforce does however need to
be supported and developed and challenges have been identified in relation to the
recruitment and retention of volunteers. Due to the increasing professionalisation of sport
there are additional compliance requirements at the various levels. This can act as a barrier
for volunteers; therefore support at local and national level is required to provide adequate
training to cater for additional legal requirements.
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In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, consideration will be given to the
structures needed to encourage more people to volunteer in sport and to retain and
support existing volunteers.
Questions for consideration
Where are the skills gaps in the sport workforce?
What are the challenges facing the sports sector in recruiting and retaining
volunteers?
Can success stories be identified in order to show ways to encourage more people
to volunteer in sport or existing volunteers to stay engaged over a longer period?
Are there best practice examples of volunteering in other sectors that could be
applied to the sport sector?
What are the motivation challenges for volunteers in sport?
What changes, if any, are needed to the coaching structures for volunteers in
sport?
Is the pool of potential volunteers restricted to people already engaged with a
sport or can the net be cast wider in the local community?
Are there ways to link corporate social initiatives to support volunteer
engagement in sport?
Is there scope for non-formal, community based and/or formal education
opportunities for adults that could assist NGBs in supporting volunteers in order to
meet the changing requirements of sport administration, coaching etc.?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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11. Safety in sport
The safety of all those involved in sport is paramount whether as participants, competitors,
spectators, volunteers, workers etc.
The Code of Practice for Safety at Sports Grounds14 is a voluntary code published in 1996
under the Department of Education (which was then also responsible for sport). The code
provides comprehensive guidelines for the organisers of sports events and ground
administrators, who have primary responsibility to ensure safety for spectators at sports
events. This responsibility should be carried out in compliance with existing legislation and
best practice in this area and working in tandem with the relevant statutory authorities.
Issues related to crowd safety in general are governed by legislative provisions operating
under the aegis of a number of Government Departments including the Departments of
Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government; Health; Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation; and Justice. The Local Authorities, the Garda Síochána and the Health Service
Executive all play a key role in assisting ground management and event organisers in
meeting their responsibilities.
National Governing Bodies of Sport responsible for large events have regard to the Code of
Practice in event management. There have been no updates or reviews to the Code of
Practice since it was published in 1996. Any review would require the expertise and
assistance of those statutory stakeholders involved in the issue of crowd safety.
Sport Ireland has no statutory role or remit with regard to monitoring or reviewing the
safety standards in use by, or applicable to NGBs. Sport Ireland does not review, accredit or
endorse any safety standards as part of NGB recognition criteria. NGBs should have regard
to existing legislation and guidance issued by relevant statutory agencies. From time to
time, individual NGBs publish safety guidance and recognised good practice for their sport
(for example NGBs in the adventure activity sector). However, these are not reviewed or
approved by Sport Ireland.
In recent years, various sporting organisations, individual sportspeople and others have
been raising awareness and educating people on concussion and head injury. NGBs have
recognised the need to have guidelines and procedures in place around dealing with
concussion. Some NGBs have guidelines regarding concussion and head injury, which stress
the importance of ensuring the health and well-being of players. These NGBs are working to
deliver the message to their players, coaches and everyone who is involved in their games
that concussion and head injury is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. The common
principles across all of the guidelines are that any player suspected of having received a
concussion should be removed immediately from play and that players who are concussed
should take no further part in the match or training. The importance of managers, coaches
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and officials being aware of the symptoms of concussion in order to ensure that it is
recognised and managed appropriately cannot be over emphasised.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Health and the
Department of Education and Skills are developing guidelines on concussion in sport and in
school settings and will consult with relevant stakeholders during this process.
Questions for consideration
What particular safety challenges need to be addressed around sport?
What more might the Government and others do to ensure safety in sport?
What should be the role of NGBs in setting and overseeing appropriate safety
standards in sport?
What standards and safety guidance should be in place for sports and leisure
facilities?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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12. Integrity of sport and international influence
As outlined earlier in the consultation document, it is important to implement good
governance practices across all areas of Irish sport, to continue to ensure that appropriate
procedures are in place and to adapt to new risks and threats to the integrity of sport.
Integrity issues such as anti-doping, corruption and match-fixing are growing global
problems and the fight against these issues is being addressed in international forums.
Anti-Doping
The Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme was established in 1999 and is now operated by
Sport Ireland. It is an essential ethical foundation to Irish sport and a central pillar of Sport
Ireland’s work. The main visions of the programme are:
Education: To facilitate the development and delivery of quality education
programmes for all major stakeholders.
Testing: To provide an effective, quality-driven testing programme.
Research: To establish a long-term research programme which complements and
progresses anti-doping research nationally and internationally.
International: To keep abreast of international best practice and to collaborate with
relevant international initiatives.
Administration: To develop and maintain quality standards to ensure correct and
transparent administrative procedures.
Sport Ireland has a strong working relationship with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
and endeavours to be at the forefront of all WADA initiatives. WADA was established in
1999 as an international independent agency composed of and funded equally by the sport
movement and governments of the world. Ireland has ratified the Council of Europe
Convention on Anti-Doping and the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in
Sport which binds the government to the implementation of a fully functioning National
Anti-Doping Programme which complies with all of the relevant articles of the WADA Code.
Sport Ireland expenditure on Anti-Doping
The following table shows expenditure on Anti-Doping by Sport Ireland (previously the Irish
Sports Council) from 2006-2015.
Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)
Anti-Doping 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9
Total current expenditure 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3
% of total current expenditure 2.7% 1.7% 1.6% 1.5% 1.4% 1.7% 1.8% 1.8% 2.1% 2.0%
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Match-Fixing
A number of NGBs have administrative rules or practices in place around the misconduct of
competitors including match-fixing. In 2012, in response to the growing global threat of
match-fixing in sport, the Council of Europe invited parties to the European Cultural
Convention to begin negotiations for a Convention against the manipulation of sports
results. Negotiations began in October 2012 and the drafting group comprised of over 50
delegations, including Ireland. The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of
Sports Competitions was adopted in July 2014 and opened for signature in September 2014.
The Convention will come into force following ratification by at least five signatories, three
of which must be members of the Council of Europe.
The Council of Europe match-fixing convention covers a number of complex cross-
departmental issues such as gambling, money laundering, data protection and criminal
issues. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has begun the process of
consideration of Ireland’s signature and ratification of the Convention. This will be done in
consultation with all Government Departments and stakeholders with a role in this area and
identification of the steps Ireland needs to take to comply with the provisions of the
Convention.
Sport and the EU
Sport has been an EU competence since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in
December 2009. While sports policy remains a matter for EU Member States, the EU
competence gives the EU and its 28 Member States the opportunity to work more closely
together to address issues of common interest. It also gives the EU the opportunity to
speak with one voice internationally particularly in areas such as the fight against doping.
Since 2010, EU sports ministers meet twice-yearly in a formal context as part of the
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. These meetings are a forum to adopt political
statements on priorities for EU action and react to topical issues in the field of sport. The
National Sports Policy Framework will consider the impact on sport, if any, from the UK
electorate’s decision in June 2016 to leave the European Union.
Sport Ireland is the national coordinator for the European Week of Sport in Ireland which is
an initiative of the European Commission. The first week in 2015 ran from the 7-30
September and over 300 sporting events were delivered throughout the country over that
time. The second European Week of Sport took place between 10-18 September 2016 and
consisted of 480 events with over 50,000 participants.
A specific EU funding programme for sport was included for the first time in the EU
Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport for 2014-2020. The
Erasmus+ programme has an overall budget of €14.7 billion for the seven years, with a sport
budget of almost €266 million. The sport programme is focusing on transnational projects
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supporting grassroots sport and tackling cross-border challenges such as match-fixing,
doping, violence and racism, as well as promoting good governance, gender equality, social
inclusion and physical activity for all.
Questions for consideration
How effective are the existing structures in place to uphold the integrity of Irish
sport across all areas including the fight against doping, match-fixing and
corruption and are there areas that could be improved?
Are there ways that Ireland can more effectively influence international sport
issues?
Are there best practice international models which Ireland could benefit from?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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13. Sport in a cross-sectoral context
There is a wide range of organisations and entities involved in sport in Ireland, from local to
national level, and greater clarity is needed on the strategic direction, desired outcomes and
funding for sport across all levels. The development of the National Sports Policy
Framework will also consider the cross-sectoral role of sport in the economy, health,
education, tourism, business and social areas and how sport can help deliver Government
objectives in these areas.
At government level, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for
the development of sport policy but there are a number of other Government departments
with an interest in sport. These include the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; the
Department of Education and Skills; the Department of Health; the Department of Housing,
Planning, Community and Local Government; the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional,
Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and the relevant State agencies under the remit of these
Departments. The local authorities have a huge role to play in the delivery of sport
programmes and infrastructure at regional and local level.
There is a wide range of sport related issues which require a more cohesive cross-
government/sectoral policy approach. Some of the key areas include sport in schools;
outdoor recreation; cycling and walking (active travel); and workplaces. There has been
improved coordination and partnership in recent years between Government departments
in the area of sport, most recently in the development of the cross-sectoral National
Physical Activity Plan. The cross-sectoral working group that developed the plan was co-
chaired by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health
and also included representatives from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the
Department of Education and Skills, Local Authorities and key stakeholders.
There is extensive cooperation on an all-island basis in the area of sport. Officials of the
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department for Communities in
Northern Ireland meet regularly to discuss sporting issues of mutual interest. Sport Ireland
and Sport Northern Ireland also liaise and engage in a number of high level and strategic
programmes which require a joint approach including anti-doping, Code of Ethics, high
performance, NGB development and research. Coaching Ireland operates on an all-island
basis and many of the NGBs are also organised on an all-island basis.
Sport Ireland works with the NGBs and LSPs to develop and deliver strategies at national
and local level to increase participation in sport and support high performance. Sports clubs
are pivotal to providing opportunities for participation in sport and increasing levels of
participation in local communities. In recent years, many sports clubs are broadening their
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programmes beyond just sport and providing programmes focussing on health and social
initiatives.
In order to facilitate engagement in sport and physical activity across the life course, the
development of physically literacy in children and young people is vital. The role of schools
in this area and the link between Physical Education in schools and sport in local
communities is a key issue that has been raised by many stakeholders in recent years. It is
also important to recognise the crucial role of parents in embedding sport and physical
activity into the daily lives of children.
There is existing cooperation between sport and education around the area of physical
activity. Sport Ireland has been delivering the Buntús programmes for primary schools since
2001 through the LSPs to complement the games strand of the PE curriculum and support
teachers. A number of the NGBs also deliver Buntús sports specific programmes to schools
and there are links between sports clubs and schools in some local communities. There is
an opportunity to build on these existing links and to further enhance collaboration
between the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Education
and Skills in the area of sport. There may also be scope for improved cooperation around
the provision of sports infrastructure.
The private sector also has a role in the delivery of public policy objectives in sport and
providing opportunities for participation in sport. Personal exercise and swimming are two
of the most popular sports activities identified in the Irish Sports Monitor and without the
role of the private sector, much fewer people would be able to participate in these sports.
There is a need to adopt a more joined-up approach on the structures and roles for the
delivery of sport policy across all levels of Irish sport. It is a complex landscape and this is
not an easy task but it is necessary to ensure that optimal policy outcomes are articulated,
resources and funding are targeted effectively, that there is no duplication of functions and
that strategies can be achieved and targets met. It is important that there is ongoing
engagement with all stakeholders including the voluntary and community sector,
corporate/commercial sector, media and key stakeholder groups such as parents, athletes,
players, coaches, teachers etc.
Questions for consideration
What are the particular challenges presented by the complex landscape identified
above?
Are there opportunities for the sports sector to work more effectively with other
sectors and for the public and private sector to work together to deliver public
policy objectives in sport?
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How to get the best value in terms of sports policy objectives from the range of
investment by different public entities in sport programmes and infrastructure?
How can the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and other Government
departments work better together for the good of sport?
What formal structure/s needs to be put in place to best support the
implementation of and accountability of a cross-Government sports policy across a
range of government departments, local authorities, statutory and other bodies?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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14. Outdoor recreation
The Irish Sports Monitor has shown an upsurge in recent years in participation in outdoor
recreational activities such as walking, running, cycling and triathlon. Outdoor sports
activities such as hiking, cycling, and water sports are also becoming very popular activities
in attracting overseas visitors, and large participative sporting events, such as adventure
races, attract increasing numbers of overseas competitors.
Outdoor recreation covers a wide range of activities including canoeing, cycling, diving,
kayaking, orienteering, hill walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, rowing, sailing,
snorkelling and triathlon. The diverse policy issues around outdoor recreation includes the
following:
- access
- development, maintenance and promotion of outdoor recreation facilities
- regulation of outdoor recreation/adventure activities
- environmental protection
- rural development
- increasing participation in outdoor recreation (recreational walking is the most
popular form of physical activity in Ireland with over 2 million participating every
week)
- smarter travel
- tourism initiatives
At present, there are a number of Government Departments and State Bodies involved in
the area of outdoor recreation with a range of structures in place that are not currently
administered or funded in a joined-up approach. The main Departments are the
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; the Department of Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government; and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural
and Gaeltacht Affairs.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has a significant remit for outdoor
recreation under each of its three areas of statutory responsibility. The Department is
responsible for the smarter travel programme and implementation of the national cycling
framework policy. Outdoor recreation tourism has received significant support from Fáilte
Ireland.
Sport Ireland has a statutory function to develop strategies for increasing participation in
recreational sport at national and local level and to co-ordinate the implementation of those
strategies by all involved in promoting recreational sport and providing recreational
facilities. Sport Ireland provides funding to a wide range of NGBs involved in outdoor
recreation and also leads the national ‘Get Ireland Walking’ Programme. The National Trails
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Office (NTO) of Sport Ireland coordinates and drives the implementation of the Irish Trails
Strategy and promotes the use of recreational trails in Ireland. The NTO also maintains a
national trails register.
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is responsible for
local authorities and planning policy. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and
Gaeltacht Affairs chairs Comhairle na Tuaithe and has a rural recreation unit in place to
coordinate the implementation of the national countryside recreation strategy and the
national walks scheme (maintenance programme), and is responsible for the Rural
Recreation Officer scheme.
Comhairle na Tuaithe was established in 2004 to address the issue of access to the
countryside, to develop a countryside code and to develop a countryside recreation
strategy. It is comprised of representatives of the farming organisations, recreational users
of the countryside and state bodies with a responsibility or interest in the countryside. In
2015, the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government initiated
a review of Comhairle na Tuaithe and the 2006 National Countryside Recreation Strategy.
This review is ongoing.
Other Government Departments with an outdoor recreation remit include the Department
of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Climate Change, Communications
and Natural Resources; the Department of Education and Skills; and the Department of
Social Protection. The National Sports Policy Framework will seek to set out the optimal
approach for the development of a joint policy and strategy in this area, taking account of
the wide range of issues involved and in consultation with other Government Departments
with a role in this area.
Questions for consideration
Given the increasing popularity of participation in outdoor recreational activities,
should sport policy focus on further increasing participation levels in this area and
getting inactive people participating in physical activity?
Given the diverse range of policy issues involved in outdoor recreation, what
formal structure needs to be put in place to best support both the implementation
and accountability of a cross-Government policy in this area across a range of
government departments, statutory and other bodies?
Are there additional opportunities to promote participation in adventure activities
and outdoor sports to overseas visitors?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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15. Sports Tourism
Why do people visit a country? Ultimately, they want to have a good time and enjoy new
experiences. Sports Tourism has the potential to provide the spectacle and excitement that
tourists are looking for when they search for a destination to provide new and compelling
experiences. The sports tourism industry is worth an estimated €450bn globally and is the
fastest growing tourism sector. During 2014, overseas activity/sport tourism was worth
€900m to Ireland. Tourists engaged in a range of non-competitive sporting activities such
as cycling, golf, hiking, walking, angling and water based pursuits. Ireland’s strong position
as a destination for these outdoor activities assists in the regional diversification of tourism,
and supports Ireland’s overall reputation as a clean, green country that offers a healthy
lifestyle and thus enhances our attractiveness as a location of choice for high-skilled
employment, investment and entrepreneurship. Sports Tourism is a high yield sector with
the adventure or sports traveller spending on average 40% higher than the average
overseas holiday maker. The largest source market (50%) is mainland Europe and visitors
stay in Ireland on average 7 nights.
Hosting sports events generates additional international visitors and puts Ireland onto travel
itineraries as a holiday destination. Events are key motivators for travellers. Every year
tourists arrive in Ireland attracted by sporting events across a wide range of disciplines.
Ireland has a proven record of hosting and delivering international sporting events,
including the Ryder Cup (2006), Solheim Cup (2011), Tall Ships Race (Waterford & Dublin),
Heineken Cup (2013) American Football Games (2012, 2014 and 2016) and the Giro d’Italia
(Belfast to Dublin, 2014). Events of scale including the successful bids to host the Women’s
Rugby World Cup in 2017 and the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament at the Aviva Stadium, as well
as the all-Island bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, further demonstrate an appetite to
attract and host international sporting events in the future.
Many global host destinations have refocused their event bidding ambitions on foot of the
global economic crisis, with established destinations tailoring their prospecting to events
which have the potential to deliver economic return and are aligned to existing sporting
infrastructure. Against this backdrop there is a sense that Ireland could secure a larger piece
of the Sports Tourism market.
Fáilte Ireland is intensely focused on developing and growing a strong stable pipeline of
events to ensure sustainable growth and recognise sport tourism as a key sector. They have
created a dedicated and expert “Event Ireland” team to identify, bid for, and win events for
Ireland. During 2015, the Fáilte Ireland team supported National Governing Bodies in
securing 9 future events for Ireland, with the potential to deliver 90,000 bednights.
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Event Ireland’s goal is to act as Ireland’s bidding agency, and as such an evolving range of
practical and financial supports are available at all stages of the bid process from initial
identification to post event. Event Ireland are ideally looking for opportunities that are
available for bidding, deliver international bednights, and have sufficient lead-in time and
private sector investment.
Available supports are highlighted in the following table:
Stage Summary Event Ireland Supports
Identification Identification of Suitable
Event & Potential
Interest
Research & Event Prospecting
Identification of suitable events
Pre-bid Feasibility & Decision to
Bid
Feasibility & Risk Assessment
Commitment of Future Support
Travel to preceding event for feasibility purposes
Bidding Hosting Proposition
Campaign
Agreeing Host Contract
Hosted Site inspections for decision makers
Personalised and hosted Familiarisation trips
Bid Documentation/collateral preparation and
production
Destination Information/ Letters of Support
Marketing support, personalised videos & campaigns
Budget Planning
Bid presentation travel costs & Networking Events
Contract negotiation and support
Access to Mentoring support
Financial support towards suitable event
Preparation Developing Readiness
Leveraging Benefits
Campaign Promotion
Marketing Campaign/PR & Promotion via channels
Introduction to industry trade partners
Evolving supports as required by NGB
Staging Event Delivery
Realising Benefits
Evolving supports as required by NGB
Communications/ Collateral/Signage
Minister Speaking Opportunities
Hosted Observer Programmes
Lord Mayor Reception
Post Event Capture data,
knowledge, experience
Feedback Loop
Telling the Story
Economic Impact Studies
Building case studies/ Narrative of Ireland as a host
destination
Identification of Further Events
The Government’s Tourism Policy Statement, “People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to
2025”, recognises that sporting events (including large scale international ones but also
smaller participative sporting events) should play a part in achieving our future tourism
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growth targets. A Tourism Action Plan for the period 2016-2018 was launched on 28
January 2016. The Action Plan was prepared by the Tourism Leadership Group which
includes representatives from a broad range of tourism stakeholders from the public and
private sector. The Plan contains 23 Actions which will be carried out in order to help
achieve the overall policy objectives of the tourism policy statement and includes a
commitment that the National Sports Policy Framework will include specific objectives with
regard to sports-related tourism. Actions are also included in relation to the 2023 Rugby
World Cup bid and the Plan also commits that Fáilte Ireland will engage with relevant
sporting bodies to make their activities more accessible to overseas visitors.
Questions for consideration
How can the objectives of the sport and tourism sectors be married?
Are stakeholders aware of the current structure and supports available to attract
events to Ireland?
What changes would stakeholders make to the structure and supports available?
What type of events should Ireland seek to attract in order to ensure its fair share
of the global sports tourism market? Where should Ireland position itself in order
to attract sports tourism?
Does sport have a role in achieving regionality and seasonality objectives in
tourism? Can we attract more sports tourists to destinations outside Dublin and
during the shoulder season? How can this be achieved?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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16. Financing Irish Sport
Government funding for sport in 2016 is €126 million, which is an increase of 40% on the
2015 allocation. It is recognised that the decrease in public funding available for sport in
recent years due to the economic crisis has put pressure on the finances of local and
national sporting organisations, the majority of whom are heavily reliant on Exchequer
funding.
Sports Programme Funding 2006-2015
Irish Sports
Council (€m)
National
Sports
Campus (€m)
Sports Capital
Programme
(€m)
Local Authority
Swimming Pools
Programme (€m)
Total
(€m)
2006 40.9 2.2 60.0 22.8 125.9
2007 54.0 9.0 63.7 27.8 154.5
2008 57.2 6.5 60.1 20.5 144.3
2009 51.7 6.4 58.7 11.7 128.5
2010 49.6 5.5 50.0 3.1 108.2
2011 46.8 2.2 23.4 9.5 81.9
2012 44.5 5.7 19.8 7.7 77.7
2013 43.4 9.8 13.6 5.5 72.3
2014 43.2 6.2 20.9 0.9 71.2
2015 44.3* 31.8 28.0 1.6 105.7
Total (€m) 475.6 85.3 398.2 111.1 1070.2
*Irish Sports Council Figure for 2015 includes Dormant Account Funding of €1.8 million
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Current and Capital funding for Sport 2006 to 2015
Funding for Sport €m
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Current programme expenditure by Sport Ireland 2006-2015 (previously the Irish Sports Council)
Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
€m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m
Participation † 25.4 33.9 33.7 32.6 31.1 29.1 26.7 25.7 25.0 27.5
High Performance † 8.5 11.7 14.8 11.7 11.7 12.3 11.7 11.5 13.0 11.7
Coaching 1.7 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.9
Anti Doping † 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9
Other Costs⁰ 4.3 5.5 6.0 4.7 4.8 3.2 4.1 4.3 3.4 3.2
Total 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3
†These figures do not include administration costs ⁰Other costs include Direct Programming Costs, Staffing Costs and other Miscellaneous Expenses NOTE: Participation Figure for 2015 includes Dormant Account Funding of €1,795,000
Breakdown between Participation and High Performance expenditure by Sport Ireland 2006-2015
Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Participation † 62% 63% 59% 63% 63% 62% 60% 59% 58% 62%
High Performance † 21% 22% 26% 23% 24% 26% 26% 26% 30% 26%
It is important that future funding for sport is targeted at the right interventions. It is also
important that sports organisations which are reliant on Exchequer funding should consider
ways to diversify their income streams. While some national governing bodies of sport are
successful in generating commercial revenue including sponsorship, broadcast rights and
commercial partnerships, many sports organisations, particularly smaller bodies, find it
difficult to generate commercial investment. Other sectors such as the arts and culture
sector have benefitted from philanthropic support, and this is an area that could be
explored for the sports sector.
The development of the National Sports Policy Framework will consider options for the
future financing of sport. This will include where the focus of future Government funding
for sport should be targeted, the scope to introduce a system of multi-annual programme
funding for sport and the potential for other funding sources such as fundraising,
membership fees, philanthropy, media rights etc.
A number of cross-departmental issues have arisen in recent years which have an impact on
sport and the ability of sports organisations to generate income. These include alcohol
sponsorship of sports events and the designation of sporting events as free-to-air television
events. The National Sports Policy Framework will consider these and other cross-sectoral
issues and the continued role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in
inputting to policy decisions in these areas.
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Questions for consideration
As there will always be competition for Government resources between different
priorities, what is the most significant reason why sports funding should be
maintained/ increased?
How can funding for sport be optimised while keeping public sector objectives
firmly central?
What would be the appropriate balance of Government funding between high
performance and participation?
How can new sources of commercial investment into sport and/or philanthropic
contributions to sport and sports bodies be encouraged?
Is it possible for some governing bodies, depending on size, to be self-sustaining?
In the case of smaller NGBs which are predominantly financed by public funding,
would it be a more effective use of funds to provide shared supports for
administration etc.?
How can it be ensured that commercial revenue available to certain sports benefit
the grassroots level of that sport?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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17. Measuring the impact of sport
The new National Sports Policy Framework will consider how the impact of sport should be
measured and identify the mechanisms that should be put in place to evaluate the short,
medium and long-term effectiveness of funding, policies and interventions in sport. There is
a need to identify clear and comprehensive outputs and outcomes across all areas of the
policy framework. This will involve consideration of issues wider than levels of participation
in sport and the number of medals won and looking at the broader outcomes that sport can
deliver. Sport’s impact across a range of issues will be considered including physical and
mental wellbeing; individual development; social and community development; and
economic development.
It is important to have a sound evidence base to feed into the development of policy and
measure the impact of policies delivered. Continued research across all areas of sport is a
key tool and the National Sports Policy Framework will consider if there are gaps in current
research on sport and the priorities for the coming years.
Questions for consideration
How should Government investment in sport be measured?
How can appropriate evaluative mechanisms be developed which inform on the
short, medium and long-term effectiveness of funding, policies and interventions
in sport?
What outputs and outcomes should be included across the different areas of the
sports policy framework?
How can the broader outcomes from sport be quantified?
Are there gaps in the current evidence base for sport?
Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?
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Appendix 1 - Trends in participation levels in
sport 2007-2015
Participation in Sport 2007-2015
.
Participation in Sport by Gender 2007 – 2015
0
10
20
30
40
50
2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015
Overall Participation in Sport
% Participation
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015
Men
Women
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Participation in Sport by Employment Status
Participation in Sport by Educational Qualification
.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015
Employed
Self-Employed
Unemployed - Looking forWork
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015
Primary/Lower
Junior Certificate
Leaving Certificate
Third Level
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Appendix 2 – Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic
Performances by Team Ireland
Olympic Games
Team Ireland Olympic Performance
Top 10 Top 20
Rio 2016 16 14 (30 total)
London 2012 14 6 (20 total)
Beijing 2008 9 5 (14 total)
Athens 2004 3 10 (13 total)
Top 8 Event Result
Paul O’Donovan & Gary O’Donovan Rowing – LM2x Silver Medal
Annalise Murphy Sailing – Laser Radial Silver Medal
Robert Heffernan 50km Race Walks 6th Place
Thomas Barr 400m Hurdles 4th Place
Stephen Donnelly Boxing – 69kg Quarter Final
Katie Taylor Boxing – 60kg Quarter Final
Oliver Dingley Diving – 3m Springboard 8th Place
Eventing Team Eventing 8th Place
Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe Modern Pentathlon 8th Place
Natalya Coyle Modern Pentathlon 7th Place
Sinead Jennings & Claire Lambe Rowing – LW2x 6th Place
Michael Conlon Boxing – 56kg Quarter Final
Top 10 Event Result
Scott Evans Badminton – Singles Joint 9th Place
Jonty Evans Individual Eventing 9th Place
Hockey Team Men’s Hockey Ranked 10th in world
Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern Sailing – 49er 10th Place
Top 16 Event Result
Joe Ward Boxing – 69kg Last 16
Dan Martin Cycling – Road Race 13th Place
Seamus Power Men’s Golf Joint 15th Place
Sanita Puspure Rowing – W1X 13th Place
Saskia Tidey & Andrea Brewster Sailing – 49er FX 12th Place
Shane Ryan 100m Backstroke 16th Place
David Oliver Joyce Boxing – 60kg Last 16
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Top 20 Event Result Brendan Boyce 50km Race Walks 19th Place
Mark English 800m 17th Place
Ciara Mageean 1500m 17th Place
Sara Treacy 3000m Steeplechase 17th Place
Fionnuala McCormack Marathon 20th Place
Judy Reynolds Dressage 18th Place
Nicholas Quinn 200m Breaststroke 19th Place
Paralympic Games
Team Ireland Paralympic Performance
Top 10 Top 20
Rio 2016 11 22
London 2012 16 27
Beijing 2008 5 18
Athens 2004 4 2
Medals Event Result
Jason Smyth 100m T13 Gold
Michael McKillop 1500m T37 Gold
Eoghan Clifford Cycling – Time Trial C3 Gold
Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – 1km Time Trial B Gold
Orla Barry Discus F57 Silver
Niamh McCarthy Discus F41 Silver
Colin Lynch Time Trial C2 Silver
Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – Road Race B Silver
Noelle Lenihan Discus F38 Bronze
Eoghan Clifford Cycling -– Individual Pursuit C3 Bronze
Ellen Keane 100m Backstroke SB8 Bronze
Top 8 Event Result
Greta Streimikyte 1500m T13 4th Place
Eoghan Clifford Cycling – Road Race C1-2-3 5th Place
Colin Lynch Cycling – Track C2 3000m
Individual Pursuit
5th Place
Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – Track B 3000m
Individual Pursuit
5th Place
Nicole Turner 50m Butterfly S6 5th Place
Rena McCarron Rooney Table Tennis – Singles Classes 1-2 Joint 5th – Qtr Finals
Deirdre Mongan Shot Put F53 6th Place*
Patrick O’Leary Canoeing KL3 6th Place*
Damien Vereker & Sean Hahessy Cycling – Road Time Trial B 6th Place
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Top 8 Event Result
James Scully 200m Freestyle S5 6th Place
Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – Track B 1000m Time
Trial
7th Place
James Scully 100m Freestyle S5 7th Place
Nicole Turner 50m Freestyle S6 7th Place
Nicole Turner 100m Breaststroke SB6 7th Place
Nicole Turner 200m Individual Medley SM6 7th Place
Orla Comerford 100m T13 8th Place
Damien Vereker & Sean Hahessy Cycling – Track B 100m Time Trial 8th Place
Nicole Turner 400m Freestyle S6 8th Place
Damien Vereker & Sean Hahessy Cycling – Track B 4000m
Individual Pursuit
8th Place
Ellen Keane 100m Backstroke S9 8th Place
Ellen Keane 100m Butterfly 8th Place
Catherine Walsh & Francine Meehan Para-Triathlon 8th Place*
*Signifies where there was a Top 8 performance in an event with less than 12 competitors
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Appendix 3 - Breakdown of high performance
expenditure 2006-2015
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
International Carding
2.12 2.28 2.70 2.50 2.85 2.32 2.61 1.62 1.56 1.55
Paralympic Council of Ireland
0.21 0.63 0.51 0.29 0.25 0.40 0.30 0.31 0.50 0.33
Olympic Council of Ireland
0.35 0.53 0.52 0.36 0.35 0.42 0.46 0.40 0.45 0.35
Team Golf Ireland 0.29 0.26 0.22 0.26 0.22 0.21 0.18 0.16 0.17 0.20
Morton Stadium 0.13 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15
High Performance Grants
4.54 6.57 5.96 6.07 5.65 6.48 6.43 6.59 7.50 6.56
50 Metre Pool 0.30 0.32 0.33 0.33 0.32 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Institute of Sport and related programmes
0.58 1.04 0.97 0.70 0.84 1.07 1.24 1.09 1.38 1.40
Grants for Gaelic Players*
3.50 1.05 1.05 0.99
0.90 0.90 0.90
Total 8.52 11.75 14.84 11.71 11.68 12.34 11.67 11.52 12.91 11.74
*There are differing definitions of High Performance, and grants for Gaelic Players is included in the definition used by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
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Appendix 4 - Athletes and teams funded through
Sport Ireland’s International Carding Scheme
2016
NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total
Athletics Ireland Robert Heffernan Podium €40,000
Athletics Ireland Fionnuala McCormack World Class €20,000
Athletics Ireland Ciaran O’Lionaird World Class €20,000
Athletics Ireland Mark English World Class €20,000
Athletics Ireland Paul Robinson World Class €20,000
Athletics Ireland Thomas Barr World Class €20,000
Athletics Ireland Mens 4x4 Relay World Class €20,000
Athletics Ireland Brian Gregan International €12,000
Athletics Ireland Brendan Boyce International €12,000
Athletics Ireland Alex Wright International €12,000
Athletics Ireland Ciara Everard International €12,000
Athletics Ireland Ciara Mageean International €12,000 €220,000
Badminton Ireland Chloe Magee World Class €20,000
Badminton Ireland Sam Magee World Class €20,000
Badminton Ireland Josh Magee World Class €20,000
Badminton Ireland Scott Evans International €12,000 €72,000
IABA Brendan Irvine Podium €40,000
IABA Katie Taylor Podium €40,000
IABA Joe Ward Podium €40,000
IABA Paddy Barnes Podium €40,000
IABA Michael O’Reilly Podium €40,000
IABA Michael Conlon Podium €40,000
IABA Steven Donnelly World Class €20,000
IABA Dean Walsh World Class €20,000
IABA Sean McComb World Class €20,000
IABA David Oliver Joyce World Class €20,000
IABA Dean Gardiner International €12,000
IABA Darren O’Neill International €12,000
IABA Adam Nolan International €12,000
IABA Ceire Smith International €12,000 €368,000
Irish Canoe Union Patrick O’Leary (para
canoe)
World Class €20,000
Irish Canoe Union Tom Brennan International €12,000
Irish Canoe Union Liam Jegou International €12,000
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NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total Irish Canoe Union Jenny Egan International €12,000
Irish Canoe Union Olympic Qualification
Programme Funding
€15,000 €71,000
Irish Clay Pigeon
Shooting
Association
Derek Burnett International €12,000 €12,000
Cycling Ireland Eoghan Clifford (para
cycling)
Podium €40,000
Cycling Ireland Katie George
Dunleavy (para
cycling)
Podium €40,000
Cycling Ireland Women’s Track
Programme
World Class €74,000
Cycling Ireland Colin Lynch (para
cycling)
World Class €20,000
Cycling Ireland Eoin Mullen World Class €20,000
Cycling Ireland Peter Ryan (para
cycling)
International €12,000
Cycling Ireland Felix English International €12,000 €218,000
Irish Judo
Association
Lisa Kearney World Class €20,000 €20,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Jason Smyth Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Michael McKillop Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Orla Barry Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Niamh McCarthy Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Deirdre Mongan Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Noelle Lenihan Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
John McCarthy International €12,000
Paralympics
Athletics Ireland
Lorraine Regan International €12,000
Paralympics
Swimming Ireland
Ellen Keane Podium €40,000
Paralympics
Swimming Ireland
James Scully International €12,000
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NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total Paralympics
Swimming Ireland
Nicole Turner International €12,000
Paralympics
Swimming Ireland
Ailbhe Kelly International €12,000
Paralympic
Equestrian
Helen Kearney International €12,000 €352,000
Pentathlon Ireland Arthur Lanigan-
O’Keeffe
Podium €40,000
Pentathlon Ireland Natalya Coyle World Class €20,000 €60,000
Rowing Ireland Sinead Lynch World Class €20,000
Rowing Ireland Claire Lambe World Class €20,000
Rowing Ireland Gary O’Donovan International €12,000
Rowing Ireland Paul O’Donovan International €12,000
Rowing Ireland Sanita Puspure International €12,000
Rowing Ireland Mark O’Donovan International €6,000
Rowing Ireland Shane O’Driscoll International €6,000
Rowing Ireland Denise Walsh International €6,000
Rowing Ireland €24,000 €118,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Annalise Murphy World Class €20,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Ryan Seaton World Class €20,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Matthew McGovern World Class €20,000
Irish Sailing
Association
James Espey International €12,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Andrea Brewster International €12,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Saskia Tidey International €12,000
Irish Sailing
Association
John Twomey International €12,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Ian Costelloe International €12,000
Irish Sailing
Association
Austin O’Carroll International €12,000 €132,000
Swim Ireland Fiona Doyle World Class €20,000
Swim Ireland Daniel Sweeney International €12,000
Swim Ireland Nicholas Quinn International €6,000
Swim Ireland Christopher Bryan International €6,000
Swim Ireland Shane Ryan International €6,000
Swim Ireland Diving Programme €15,000 €65,000
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NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total Para Table Tennis Rena McCarron
Rooney
World Class €20,000 €20,000
Triathlon Ireland Aileen Reid World Class €20,000
Triathlon Ireland Bryan Keane International €12,000
Triathlon Ireland Ben Shaw International €12,000
Triathlon Ireland Para Triathlon Rio
Programme
€20,000 €64,000
Overall Total 2016 €1.792m
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Appendix 5 - Allocations by the Sports Capital
Programme 2014-2015 by sport
Sport Sum of Amount Allocated (Base)
Gaelic Games* €32,114,921
Multi-Sport €20,575,676
Soccer €12,366,457
Rugby €5,985,606
Tennis €3,384,635
Boxing €2,126,380
Rowing €1,641,350
Sailing €1,493,412
Athletics €1,411,733
Swimming €1,319,552
Gymnastics €1,024,165
Hockey €840,044
Golf €540,601
Diving/Snorkelling €528,935
Canoeing/Kayaking €456,169
Cricket €445,195
Wheelchair Sport €341,998
Badminton €303,896
Pitch and Putt €278,097
Triathlon €269,735
Bowls €235,714
Equestrian Sports €230,100
Cycling €225,436
Basketball €211,096
Mountaineering €205,280
Special Olympics €189,905
Martial Arts €182,338
Community Games €127,000
Archery €124,339
Squash €120,000
Angling/Fishing €111,250
Weightlifting €84,806
Volleyball €62,000
Table Tennis €56,800
Shooting Sports €52,000
*Gaelic Games includes Gaelic football (men’s and ladies’), hurling, handball and camogie
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Sport Sum of Amount Allocated (Base)
American Football €47,808
Orienteering €44,000
Motorcycling €43,101
Water-skiing & Wakeboarding €40,000
Billiards & Snooker €28,000
Wrestling €22,000
Motor Sport €20,000
Olympic Handball €20,000
Tug of War €17,252
Taekwondo €16,408
Clay Pigeon Shooting €14,000
Racquetball €12,000
Fencing €8,799
Surfing €7,000
Modern Pentathlon €5,391
Rock Climbing €4,050
Judo €4,000
Tenpin Bowling €3,000
Skateboarding €2,000
Total €90,025,430
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Appendix 6 - Usage figures for National Sports
Campus Facilities
Facility Usage
National Aquatic Centre Visitor numbers rose from 565,085 in 2007 to 991,554 in
2015
National Horse Sport Arena 209 bookings/events in 2015
National Modern Pentathlon Centre In use 5 days a week, resulting in approximately 250
sessions per year
National Diving Training Centre Used by 275 members of the Diving Academy & Club and
350 members of the Gymnastics Academy weekly. Also
used by the Irish Diving Squad for daily training
throughout the year
High Performance Training Centre
- strength and conditioning area - mixed training zone - rehab/medical area - 4-lane 130 metre track - dedicated boxing area
Almost 700 athletes supported in the High Performance
Training Centre (January to September 2016) for training,
testing and services including medicine, performance
analysis, physiology and strength and conditioning
FAI National Training Centre Over 330 events (September 2015 to August 2016), from
Men’s and Women’s squads from all age categories
including the Senior Teams, and the Irish Paralympic Team
GAA National Games Development
Centre
Opened in April 2016
Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitch facility Public usage figures for the Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitch
facility rose from 73,948 in 2014 to 93,236 in 2015
Two large multi-sport turf pitches
accommodating Gaelic games, football
and rugby
The multi-sport turf pitches, opened in 2016, have been
used by High Performance athletes including the Irish
American Football Association and the Dublin Senior
Football Team
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