Sport Ireland has welcomed the announcement by Ministers Martin and Chambers of a €65 million additional funding for sport through a COVID-19 investment programme.

The fund will be open to NGBs, sports partnerships and other related sports bodies, who can apply for funding under the new scheme. Five areas have been earmarked as part of the sceme:

  • A Field Sport Fund to support the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU
  • A Resilience Fund to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport and other Sport Ireland Funded Bodies
  • A Sports Club Resilience Fund
  • A Swimming Pool & Facilities Fund
  • A Fund to support the Resumption of Sport & Physical Activity

Each body will receive funding in ‘direct response’ to its specific needs. The resilience fund is aimed at ensuring sports bodies and NGBs can continue the work they are doing to deliver sports opportunities at local and grassroot levels, which will be prioritised under the scheme. An additional focus will be on disability in sports.

So far this year, Sport Ireland has announced €26.3 million in funding for sports bodies, bringing the total funding after this scheme to €91.3 million.

Leo Gibson, Rowing Ireland Treasurer, said: “Rowing Ireland welcomes the news of increased funding for sports right across Ireland. After a difficult period with COVID, it is fantastic to see sports receive a boost to ensure this sector can continue the work it’s been doing.

“The pandemic has been a challenge for all rowing clubs clubs, and to see a scheme with a focus on local and grassroot development ensures we can come out of this stronger and more resilient. This fund will give clubs across the Irish rowing community an extra level of support as we approach a full return to the sport we love.” 

Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers welcomed the fund, saying: “We have seen the positive impact that the return of sporting fixtures has had across the country these past few months. However, there is a lot more work to be done.

“I hope that this funding will go a long way to assisting our sporting organisations and clubs and enable them to recover fully as we emerge from this pandemic.”

A club support webinar regarding funding will take place on Sunday the 10th of October at 8:00pm, with details to follow soon on Sport Ireland’s social media accounts. Additionally, specific funding information for Rowing Ireland clubs will be published in the coming days on www.rowingireland.ie.

This scheme is specific to NGBs and sports bodies and their affiliated clubs in the Republic of Ireland. Should there be any funding made available for clubs in Northern Ireland, Rowing Ireland will communicate this to its clubs.

A note from the Honorary Treasurer Leo Gibson:

We have now received information on the Sport Ireland Covid 19 Club Resilience second round of funding to address the financial losses and additional costs incurred by Clubs as a result of the Pandemic. As expected, there will only be a short application period which will end on Tuesday October 19th. We now have sufficient information to launch a webinar on the scheme next week.

A few key points:

  • The scheme is competitive with other NGBs based on the quality of the submissions from their constituent clubs. 
  • The scheme is solely to cover lost income and increased expenses as a result of the Pandemic.
  • Supporting materials will be important.
  • The questions on Club Governance and Covid precautions will be important in determining what amounts will be awarded to us for distribution to Clubs

Yours in rowing

Leo Gibson

Honorary Treasurer