The Federation of Irish Sport have produced another excellent publication regarding Irish sport . Sport has a key role to play in Ireland’s health & wellbeing. This is recognised by the Government’s Healthy Ireland framework. The truth is that an active population is a much healthier one – 89% of highly active people report their weight and eating habits as healthy – and a much less expensive one. Physical inactivity costs our health system an estimated €1.3 billion each year. Sport builds social cohesion. It unites our communities – sport is the biggest single driver of volunteerism in Ireland with 13.3% of Irish people volunteering for sport. Sport is also for everyone – 83% of children play their sport outside school, there has been a 3.7% increase in the number of women partaking in sport since 2011 and the numbers of those over 65 participating are also up by 3.3% in the same period. Rio 2016 is now right around the corner. 2015 is qualification year in most sports. In truth it is not just Rio on the horizon but Tokyo and even future games whose locations have yet to be determined. Developing sport both at grassroots and high performance levels is a continuous process and consistent investment is crucial. It is for this reason we have 2 asks for Government. “It is the Framework which will bring together people and organisations from the length and breadth of the country into a national movement with one aim: supporting all of us to enjoy the best possible health and well-being. It is designed to include Government Departments, local authorities and public bodies, business and employers, sports and voluntary groups, communities and families.” An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., speaking on the Healthy Ireland Framework Ask 1: Return current funding levels for sport to 2011 levels by 2016 = €4.4 million over 2 years or €2.2 million a year. We feel that this is a modest, prudent and realistic increase given not just the 27% decrease in current funding for sport over the last 6 years but the role sport plays in the economic and social life of our country. An increase in funding for sport can benefit all of Ireland’s people. The additional monies will allow sport continue to target the 12.6% of our population that remain inactive and support the 2.5 million that do participate. The monies will also go to preparing not just our established athletes as they seek to qualify for Rio but ensure those already in development squads eyeing up 2020 & 2024 with the coaching, training and support they require to be the best they can be flying the flag for Ireland right around the world as they do it….. Give sport a chance. It won’t let you down. “First and most importantly it is to help increase participation and more people involved in sport and physical activity because of all the benefits that come from it, whether it is physical health or mental health or developing communities, integration, reducing crime, all those social and economic benefits that derive from sport which nobody disputes. Secondly is to support our high performance athletes because of the enormous pride when they do well in their chosen fields. This helps to showcase Ireland overseas.” Minister Leo Varadkar T.D. at the Federation of Irish Sport Annual Conference Ask 2: Extend the tax relief currently in place for capital projects to current spend Why? Irish Sport also wants to help itself. With this in mind we are looking for Government to help develop a culture of private sector investment in sport. Irish Sport is the only contributor to the not for profit sector not to benefit from a tax relief on “current spend”. Irish Sport is asking Government to extend the relief in place for capital projects to current projects, such as development programmes, that can bring different sports to new places; that can support our existing and developing athletes; for programmes that can target hard to reach members of our communities, develop our coaches and look after our athletes. This works for sport overseas. In the US, on average 25% of a university athletic programme is funded by private donations. The Australian Sports Foundation has raised AUS $230m since 1986 whilst BC Sport raised CAN $1.2m in 2013. A developed culture of giving to sport has the potential to make a real and lasting positive impact on the development on sport in this country. It will also ensure that sport can be an effective tool in developing our society. It has been estimated that up to €100 million per year across all sports at all levels could be generated within 10 years. So why not try it with a review in 3 years…… …..? “There are some signs of the private sector becoming interested in providing funding. It’s not just big organisations that stand to gain from that.” Minister Leo Varadkar T.D. Full publication available here irishsport.ie/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Federation-of-Irish-Sport-Budget-Submission-Oct-2014.pdf
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:13:25 +0000