Minister ring announces 74m investment in youth field sports

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Mr. Michael Ring TD today announced an investment package of €7.4 million from the Irish Sports Council, to support grass roots development in Rugby, Football and Gaelic games.

The announcement follows the €19.6m investment in National Governing Bodies, €1.5m in direct athlete investment and €5.1m to support the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships.

Announcing the package, Minister Ring said: “Today’s investment will support the extensive participation programmes aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports. The investment supports the long-term sustainable development of the FAI, GAA and IRFU and contributes significantly to our communities in sport and the health and well-being of the nation”.

Today’s announcement will see €2.4 million invested in the GAA, €2.7 million in the FAI and €2.36 million in the IRFU and supports the Irish Sports Council’s strategic aim of increasing participation in sports throughout Ireland.  This includes coach development, club support, under-age programmes, volunteer support programmes, community schemes, referee development and targeting at-risk communities.

Kieran Mulvey, Chairperson of the Irish Sports Council explained: “We are delighted with today’s investment. These youth field programmes are based on a shared ethos of developing the grass roots of the games, growing participation numbers and targeting communities outside of the traditional base of the sport”.

Speaking at the announcement in Croke Park, John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council acknowledged: “The Irish Sports Council shares a common goal with the GAA, IRFU and FAI to increase participation in sport and physical activity. In 2014, the Irish Sports Council supported over 770,000 participants in various programmes across 4,656 clubs. Today’s investment highlights our strategy of encouraging participation across Ireland, from every age group and from all social backgrounds, removing barriers that prevent participation in sport'.

Senior representatives of the FAI, GAA and IRFU attended the announcement, with Páraic Duffy, John Delaney and Philip Browne detailing the progress made by the associations over recent years and their plans for 2015.

Notes to Editor

Field Sports Investment in Numbers

• In 2014, with the support of the Irish Sports Council, over 770,125 participants took part in various programmes delivered by the GAA, IRFU and FAI across a network of 4,656 clubs supported by 108,739 accredited coaches and 550 development staff.
• In 2015, the Irish Sports Council will invest over €7.4 million in the Youth Field Sports Programme.  This investment is broadly aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports.
• In 2015, the Irish Sports Council will invest €2.56 million for Under-Age Participation and €142,500 for the Women in Sport Programme in the FAI.
• In 2015, the Irish Sports Council will invest €2.4 million to support the Games Development and Participation initiatives in the GAA. 
• In 2015, the Irish Sports Council will invest €2.25 million to support the implementation of the Development Programme and €114,000 to support its Women in Sport Programme in the IRFU. 
• 24,194 females were involved in FAI participation programmes in 2014
• 14% increase in the number of youth hurling teams since 2010
• 66,483 children given the opportunity to play rugby as part of the school development programme
• 18,208 children participated in primary schools 5-a-side competitions across 1,038 schools
• 6.3% growth in children’s participation rates in GAA Club nurseries in Dublin in 2014
• 19% increase in youth rugby teams since 2006/2007
• 30% increase in girls participation in rugby for u13 to u19 since 2010
• 89,027 participants attended 1,051 GAA Cul Camps across the country (up 9.5% in 2014)
• 18.5% increase in participation at FAI summer soccer schools in 2014