Sports Council funds an option for athletes

The Irish Sports Council administers funding for athletes under two streams.

Under the first stream, the Sports Council awards money to the national governing body (NGB) network - a grouping comprised of representative organisations such as the Irish Sailing Association.

This funding is awarded on the basis of applications from individual bodies, which then distribute it to athletes among their membership.

The second stream is known as the "international carding scheme".

Under this system, the Irish Sports Council agrees performance criteria with the NGBs and, if an athlete reaches a pre-defined standard, they can apply for funding through their NGB.

Last year, the Sports Council provided €12.57 million for the funding of athletes through both schemes.

This year, it will also invest €3 million in a new high- performance strategy designed to support athletes in achieving "milestones" in competition.

Separate Sports Council funding is earmarked for the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick, a resource that is free for all carded athletes.

Money is also provided for resources such as career counselling.

No qualifying NGB exists for a winter sport, with the result that athletes such as Mr Clifton Wrottesley cannot receive funding under these streams.

The Sports Council also funds the Olympic Council of Ireland, however, under which athletes such as Mr Wrottesley may benefit from facilities such as pre-Olympic training camps. The Olympic Council's budget also receives contributions from sponsorship deals, media rights and the Olympic Solidarity Fund.