Sports governing body funds down 7%

GIVEN THE ever deepening hole in the State finances few of the 59 governing bodies of sport could be too disappointed with their Government funding allocation for 2010. The overall figure of €11.85 million is down seven per cent on last year’s €12.53 million – but with the exception of Special Olympics Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland the cuts aren’t drastic.

Special Olympics Ireland had their funding reduced from €2,564,269 million to €2,307,842, but their overall total is still way more than any other governing body. Horse Sport Ireland also had their allocation cut from €989,217 to €890,295, still leaving them among the best funded.

The Shooting Sports Association of Ireland and the Karate Association, however, had their funding withheld for failing to comply with the criteria laid down by the Irish Sports Council.

Horse Sport Ireland chief executive Damian McDonald said that while the 10 per cent cut was disappointing, there was an expectation that once his body got fully established – through the amalgamation of the sport and breeding sides of the industry – administrative savings would be made.

McDonald was hopeful Horse Sport Ireland’s high performance allocation, to be announced next week, would not suffer a similar cut: “It will be an important year for us in high performance as we have the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, which will be costly,” he said.

Matt English, chief executive of Special Olympics Ireland, also predicted more difficult times ahead: “This is a very expensive year for us, with the Ireland Games in June, and then the European Championships in Warsaw, and so this 10 per cent cut means we will have to rely more and more on voluntary and help from the public.

“We appreciate these are challenging times for all, but this grant from the Sports Council will only meet 30 per cent of our outlay, and is going to make our task that bit more difficult. On the other hand, the Sports Council have been great supporters of Special Olympics over the years and we are grateful for that.”

For all 59 governing bodies, most of which are in the constant shadow of soccer, rugby and GAA – and include everything from horseshoe pitching to baton twirling – the Government funding is essentially their pay cheque to keep their sport running.

Athletics Ireland, despite its governing problems of recent years, remains the next best funded after Special Olympics Ireland, their €1,053,500 marginally down on the €1,032,430 of last year.

Athletics Ireland also received a special once-off grant in 2009 of €100,000 towards the staging of the European Cross Country in Dublin last December, and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association got the same additional grant in 2009 towards the appointment of several new development officers, while their 2010 overall funding remains unchanged at €209,936.

The Shooting Sports Association of Ireland, which last year got €35,450, and the karate association (ONAKAI), which last year got €11,500, can appeal the withdrawal of their funding.

In contrast, the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association had their grant restored to €35,000, having failed to receive a grant in 2009.

Surprisingly, the only governing body to receive an increased grant for 2010 was the Irish American Football Association, which received a marginal raise from €18,750 to € 22,000. In addition to the total core funding of €11.85 million, 27 sports were also allocated grants of €1.375 million under the 2010 Women in Sport Programme.