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National Sports Policy Framework

Public Consultation Paper November 2016

Consultation on National Sports Policy Framework Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport

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Contents

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4

2. How to submit your views ....................................................................................................................... 6

3. Contribution of Sport .............................................................................................................................. 7

4. Participation ............................................................................................................................................ 9

5. High Performance ................................................................................................................................. 15

6. Local and Regional Facilities .................................................................................................................. 18

7. National Sports Campus ........................................................................................................................ 21

8. Governance ........................................................................................................................................... 27

9. Coaching ................................................................................................................................................ 30

10. Volunteer engagement ......................................................................................................................... 31

11. Safety in sport ....................................................................................................................................... 33

12. Integrity of sport and international influence ....................................................................................... 35

13. Sport in a cross-sectoral context ........................................................................................................... 38

14. Outdoor recreation ............................................................................................................................... 41

15. Sports Tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 43

16. Financing Irish Sport .............................................................................................................................. 46

17. Measuring the impact of sport .............................................................................................................. 49

Appendix 1 - Trends in participation levels in sport 2007-2015 ...................................................................... 50

Appendix 2 – Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Performances by Team Ireland .......................................... 52

Appendix 3 - Breakdown of high performance expenditure 2006-2015 ........................................................ 55

Appendix 4 - Athletes and teams funded through Sport Ireland’s International Carding Scheme 2016 ........ 56

Appendix 5 - Allocations by the Sports Capital Programme 2014-2015 by sport ........................................... 60

Appendix 6 - Usage figures for National Sports Campus Facilities .................................................................. 62

References ....................................................................................................................................................... 63


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FOREWORD BY MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND SPORT

I am very pleased to publish this consultation document on the first National Sports Policy

Framework in 20 years. Sport is an important part of the daily lives of Irish people and has a

key role across many policy areas of Irish society. It is imperative that we continue to

recognise the crucial role that sport plays in Ireland and the benefits that investment in

sport has economically, socially and on the health of the general population.

The new policy will consider what should be the priorities for Government investment in

sport. There will always be competing demands for Government resources from different

sectors and we need to ensure that future funding for sport is targeted at the right

interventions and that we have the appropriate balance of funding across a range of areas

from participation to high performance.

This is an exciting time for Irish sport. There has been significant change in the last number

of years with the establishment of Sport Ireland, with the enormous strides that have been

made in the development of the National Sports Campus and through investment under the

Sports Capital Programme.

It is vital that all stakeholders involved in Irish sport have their say in the development of

this new policy. You are the leaders who work tirelessly to champion the importance of

sport in Irish life; who drive for greater participation; who strive for higher wins. I look

forward to hearing your views and to working closely with you, as we define the strategic

direction and adopt a new National Sports Policy Framework for the years ahead.

Shane Ross TD

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport


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FOREWORD BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM AND SPORT

There is a lot to be proud of in Irish sport. There are many excellent facilities and

programmes in place around the country to encourage increased participation in

recreational sport and to support our high performance athletes who continue to do us

proud on the international stage. The work of Sport Ireland, the National Governing Bodies

of Sport, the Local Sports Partnerships and the huge number of volunteers involved in sport

is invaluable and the Government is strongly supportive of their work.

However, there are also many challenges facing sport and the new National Sports Policy

Framework provides an opportunity for all of us involved in Irish sport to address these

challenges and put in place the best possible structures to support sport across all areas.

Recent events have highlighted the need to maintain public confidence in all state funded

bodies and governance will form a key part of the new National Sports Policy Framework.

While huge strides have been made in increasing the levels of participation over the last

decade, there are continuing challenges around gender, social, age and disability gradients

in participation. There are also worrying trends in drop-off points in participation by

children and young people which we need to consider.

We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport at all levels

from early childhood right up to the highest elite level. The new sports policy also gives us

an opportunity for a more joined-up approach to sport across Government from education

to health to tourism. I am very interested in hearing the opinions, views and ideas that you

the stakeholders have about the future shape of Irish Sports Policy and how we can deliver

the very best for sport in Ireland over the coming years.

Patrick O’Donovan TD

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport


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1. Introduction

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD and the Minister of State for

Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD are developing a new National Sports Policy to

provide a framework for sport in Ireland over the next ten years and to set the agenda for

Sport Ireland. The National Sports Policy Framework will address a range of topics relevant

to sport and the challenges and opportunities for sport in the coming years. The sport

sector is recognised as having positive economic, social, cultural and health benefits both for

individuals and broader society. The National Sports Policy Framework will set out where

the focus of Government spending in sport will be and the wider cross-sectoral role of sport

in the economy, education, health, tourism and other areas.

The Ministers’ high-level goal for sport is to contribute to a healthier and more active society

by promoting sports participation and by supporting high performance sport and the

provision of facilities. Government funding for sport is provided through the Department of

Transport, Tourism and Sport which directly administers and funds the Sports Capital and

Local Authority Swimming Pool Programmes and allocates funding to Sport Ireland to deliver

its functions.

Sport Ireland is a Government Agency established on 1 October 2015. It replaced the Irish

Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority and took on the

functions previously performed by the Council and the Authority. Sport Ireland has

responsibility for the development of Irish sport, including responsibility for such matters as:

- the development of strategies relating to participation in sport;

- supporting elite athletes in achieving excellence in sport;

- facilitating standards of good conduct, fair play and the elimination of doping in

sport;

- the development of the National Sports Campus;

- the management and operation of the National Sports Campus;

- the development of guidelines and codes of conduct promoting best practice for the

protection of children in sport; and

- the development of coaches and tutors at all levels in sport.

There are currently 65 National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) which, along with their

member clubs and affiliates, manage and administer organised sport in Ireland. They train

and deploy coaches, organise representative level sport, provide opportunities and

pathways leading from local sports (through their clubs) to national and international

competition, deliver critical national sports programmes in areas such as anti-doping and

the safeguarding of children in sport, and organise and host international sporting events.

Sport Ireland provides funding to NGBs to allow them to carry out the core activities


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required to deliver quality sport in Ireland, including administration, coach education and

hosting and participating at international events. Sport Ireland also supports a national

network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships who coordinate and promote the development of

sport at local level and aim to increase levels of participation.

The National Sports Policy Framework will address the structures, programmes and

infrastructure required for recreational and high performance sport and how best to

facilitate and support the achievement of sport objectives over the next ten years.

Consultation process

The purpose of this consultation process is to invite interested parties to submit written

views/observations/suggestions on the future of Irish sport. This public consultation

process, along with the relevant stakeholder engagement, will contribute significantly to the

delivery of a National Sports Policy. As a first step, a consultation day with a range of sports

stakeholders was held on 5 November 2015.

Respondents to this consultation paper, the second step in the process, are invited to

consider questions which have been categorised under the following themes:

Contribution of Sport

Participation

High Performance

Local and Regional Facilities

National Sports Campus

Governance

Coaching

Volunteer engagement

Safety in sport

Integrity of sport and international influence

Sport in a cross-sectoral context

Outdoor recreation

Sports Tourism

Financing Irish Sport

Measuring the impact of sport

It is hoped that the questions posed will aid consideration of the topics covered.

Respondents are not confined to answering the sample questions. Respondents are invited

to offer any other contributions they wish to make.


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2. How to submit your views

Respondents are requested to make their submissions in writing and, where possible, by

email. Respondents are requested to ensure that electronic submissions are furnished in an

unprotected format. Views are requested by Friday, 6 January 2017:

1. by email to [email protected]

or

2. by post to:

Ms Rosalie Quinsey

Sports Policy and Campus Division

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Leeson Lane

Dublin 2

D02 TR60

Confidentiality of Submissions

Contributors are requested to note that it is the Department’s policy to treat all submissions

received as being in the public domain unless confidentiality is specifically requested.

Respondents are, therefore, requested to clearly identify material they consider to be

confidential and to place same in a separate annex to their response, labelled

“confidential”. Where responses are submitted by email, and those emails include

automatically generated notices stating that the content of same should be treated as

confidential, contributors should clarify in the body of their emails as to whether their

comments are to be treated as confidential.

Relevant provisions of Freedom of Information Act 1997 (as amended)

Respondents’ attention is drawn to the fact that information provided to the Department

may be disclosed in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Therefore, should you consider that any information you provide is commercially sensitive,

please identify same, and specify the reason for its sensitivity. The Department will consult

with any potentially affected respondent regarding information identified as sensitive

before making a decision on any Freedom of Information request.

Queries

Any queries regarding this consultation should be made by emailing

[email protected] or by contacting Ms Rosalie Quinsey at 01-6041237.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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3. Contribution of Sport

Sport has a very special place in the hearts and lives of Irish people, whether as participants

or spectators, and it contributes hugely to our society in many ways. It plays a vital role in

contributing to the health and quality of life of the Irish population and supporting the

development of social capital. Sport and sport-related activities also generate a significant

contribution to the Irish economy.

Sport and Health

The positive impact of sport on health and the prevention of illness and disability is widely

recognised and sport has great potential to contribute to a much healthier society. The

health benefits that can be gained from participation in sport are significant, not just for the

individual but also for our health system, with the consequent reduction in the demand on

health services. Participation in sport can improve physical and mental health, safeguard

against a number of diseases and illnesses and develop a better all-round quality of life.

Social role of sport

The social impact of sport is very important and has been a key element in the formulation

of sport policy. Sport can teach participants important life-skills such as teamwork,

discipline and leadership which can educate children and young people and enhance

employability. Sport can also play an important role in tackling some of the social

challenges faced by society, including social exclusion and anti-social behaviour. Sport gets

people involved and invested in their community through membership and participation in

sports clubs and attendance at sporting events, whether in the community or at large-scale

sporting events. Sport can further enhance the integration of new communities by bringing

people of all backgrounds together in an inclusive atmosphere.

Economic value of sport

The sport sector is a significant contributor to the economy, a contribution which includes

sports tourism, ticket sales, subscriptions and the cost of playing sport, together with the

purchase of sports equipment and merchandise, and the economic value of time given by

volunteers.

The 2010 report on the Assessment of Economic Impact of Sport in Ireland1 found that:

Irish households spend a total of €1.9 billion on sport and sport‐related goods and

services, equivalent to 2% of the overall value of consumer spending in the Irish

economy;

Sport‐related spending contributes €1.8 billion to the Irish economy value‐added,

equivalent to 1.4% of economy‐wide value‐added or GDP;

Sport and sport‐related activities support over 38,000 full‐time equivalent jobs, or

over 2% of the overall level of employment in Ireland; and


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Sport‐related volunteering activity is estimated to have an economic value

equivalent to between €322 million and €582 million annually.

While these figures relate to 2008, the report highlights the significant contribution

provided by sport to the Irish economy. A 2012 study commissioned by the European

Commission, “EU study on the Contribution of Sport to Economic Growth and

Employment”2, found that sport contributed €2.4 billion to the Irish economy whilst

supporting 40,532 jobs.

Questions for consideration

How can sport play a more effective role as part of the wider government strategies in

the following areas?

Combatting physical health conditions

Addressing mental health issues

Enhancing social inclusion and integration

Contributing to economic growth


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4. Participation

Participation in sport should be an enjoyable experience for all ages and there is a need to

strike a balance between enjoyment and competitiveness, particularly in relation to children

and young people’s participation. It is important that children are taught the necessary

fundamental skills at an early age to allow them to participate in sport and move easily

between different sports if they wish as they get older. There is also a need for policy to

take account of Ireland’s changing demography with a significantly ageing and more

ethnically and culturally diverse population.

The key priority for government investment in sport has been to promote maximum

participation in sport as everyone should have the opportunity to participate in sport

regardless of ability, age, disability, ethnic background, gender or sexual orientation. Sport

Ireland has in place policies on equality in recreational sport and advocates that no one

should be discriminated against within sport on any grounds of gender. In developing the

National Sports Policy Framework, the Department will engage with Sport Ireland on what

further actions it can take, separately and working alongside the National Governing Bodies

of Sport, to promote equality in sport, including gender equality and the promotion of LGBT

inclusion in sport.

Sport Ireland expenditure on participation

Sport Ireland, the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), the Local Sports Partnerships

(LSPs) and volunteers at community and grassroots level are delivering important

programmes throughout the country to encourage greater participation in sport. The table

and graph overleaf shows details of Sport Ireland’s (previously the Irish Sports Council)

expenditure on participation from 2006-2015.

Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)

Participation† 25.4 33.9 33.7 32.6 31.1 29.1 26.7 25.7 25.0 27.4

Total current expenditure 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3

% of total current expenditure 62% 63% 59% 63% 63% 62% 60% 59% 58% 62%

†These figures do not include administration costs

NOTE: Participation Figure for 2015 includes Dormant Account Funding of €1.795m


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Adult participation in sport

Sport Ireland’s Irish Sports Monitor tracks active and social participation in sport among

adults in Ireland. The most recent full year figures from the Irish Sports Monitor Annual

Report 20153 show that following a number of years of increasing levels of participation in

sport, participation levels have declined slightly since 2013. Adult participation rose from

44.8% in 2011 to 47.2% in 2013, but has since fallen to 45%, which is equivalent to almost

1.6 million Irish adults participating in sport regularly.

The reason suggested for the slight decrease in levels of participation is that it is a reversal of

the trend noticed during the economic downturn i.e. now that the economy is improving

and more people are working additional hours or are returning to work, they have less free

time to participate in sporting activity.

The Irish Sports Monitor highlights continuing challenges around gender, social, age and

disability gradients in participation. Appendix 1 includes graphs on the trends in

participation levels from 2007 to 2015 and a breakdown across some of the gradients.

Key findings from the 2015 ISM Annual Report:

o Approximately 1.6 million Irish adults aged 16+ regularly participate in sport and

exercise.

o Personal exercise is the most popular activity (13.7%) with running (8.2%),

swimming (8%), cycling (5.5%) and soccer (4.8%) the next most popular. Soccer,

Gaelic football and swimming are the most common sports played with children.

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Participation Expenditure €m

Total current expenditure on sport €m


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o Participation levels have declined for both genders with a larger decline among

males resulting in a narrower gender gap in participation.

o While some sports participated in on an individual basis show an increase in

participation (e.g. gym-based activities such as personal exercise and Pilates), the

proportion participating in team-based sports has declined. The extent of people

dropping out from team sports is much higher than for sports participated in on an

individual basis.

o Declines in sports participation are more pronounced among older individuals as

well as those living in lower income households and lower socio-economic groups.

This is leading to a widening social gradient.

o Walking remains the most popular physical activity among all aged over 35 years

old, with more people participating in it than in all forms of sport combined.

o There is a narrowing in the gender divide that exists in cycling for transport.

o 30.2% of adults are meeting the National Physical Activity Guidelines4 through

sport and recreational walking.

Children’s and young people’s participation in sport

The participation levels of Irish children and young people in sport and physical activity are

low in comparison to other countries. The 2010 Children’s Sport Participation and Physical

Activity study5 looked at physical activity, physical education and sports participation levels

of children and youth in Ireland. The study found that only 19% of primary school children

and 12% of post-primary school children are reaching the recommended levels of physical

activity. Girls are less likely than boys to meet the recommended physical activity levels and

the likelihood of meeting the recommended physical activity levels decreases with age.

The ‘Keeping them in the Game’ report6 looked at participation in sport and recreational

exercise from school years through to adulthood and showed the challenges that exist in

keeping people involved in sport across the different life stages. The report highlights the

growing evidence that links low levels of physical activity to poor health and focuses on why

people take up and drop out from sport and exercise activities at different life stages.

Roughly one-in-ten active participants at primary school have dropped out of sport by the

first year of second level education and this is higher in the lower socio-economic group.

Another finding of the report which provides support for promoting physical activity in

school and elsewhere is the positive association between sports participation and academic

performance.


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Media and Technology

Media and technology can play a major role in promoting sport both for spectators and

participants. The media can help raise the profile of sports which perhaps traditionally

received less focus e.g. women’s sport, minority sports or non-traditional sports. Many

sports organisations are now also using the power of social media to engage new and

existing participants. The policy of promotion of sport through both traditional and social

media is one which should be embraced, as it can play a vital role in communicating the

benefits of sport and physical activity to a wider audience.

Technology is a huge part of society and is constantly evolving. With the availability of

health, fitness, sport and physical activity apps, technology can encourage participation in

sport and physical activity. New technology can play a role in increasing participation by

allowing users to identify opportunities to take part, connect with other participants,

monitor individual progress, share success and set new goals and challenges to aim for.

There is a need to ensure that sport can adapt to changing technology and look at the

potential of media and technology to encourage increased participation in sport.

Sport vs Physical Activity

Sport can have different meanings for different groups and individuals. There are many

types of sport varying from recognised sports governed by national bodies to new emerging

sporting activities. Similarly there are different ways to participate in sport – some people

like to participate in competitive sport while others enjoy the social and/or health aspects of

participation but do not wish to take part competitively. Sport Ireland is responsible for

increasing participation in recreational sport at national and local level and participation

programmes are delivered through the NGBs and the network of LSPs around the country,

including programmes aimed at specific target groups, namely women, older people,

disadvantaged communities and people with a disability.

In relation to the wider concept of physical activity, encompassing sport and other activities,

the first National Physical Activity Plan7 was published on 14 January 2016. The Plan was

developed by a cross-sectoral working group which was co-chaired by the Department of

Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health. This structure was chosen in

recognition of the cross-cutting nature of physical activity, where policy on sport, health,

education, children, environment and transport all have a key role to play. One of the aims

of the National Physical Activity Plan is to strengthen the link between the development of

play policy in early childhood and overall physical activity policy in order to ensure a joined

up approach to physical activity from childhood through to adult life.

The overarching target of the National Physical Activity Plan is to increase the proportion of

the population, across each life stage, undertaking regular physical activity by 1% per annum

in the period up to 2020. Targets have been set for the population groups of children,


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adults and older people. A cross-sectoral group has been established to oversee

implementation of the National Physical Activity Plan. The group is being co-chaired by the

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health and also

includes representatives from a number of Government departments and key stakeholders.

Sport forms a key part of the National Physical Activity Plan and a number of specific sport

actions are included, but the Plan also considers other means of physical activity including

recreational walking, active travel and physical education in schools. While the 2015 Irish

Sports Monitor showed that 45% of adults regularly participate in sport, only 30.2% of these

people are classed as highly active, meaning that they are meeting the recommended levels

of physical activity. In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, consideration will

be given to how the Government should best support further increased participation in

recreational sport while taking account of the sport actions in the National Physical Activity

Plan.

It is vital that future sports policy takes account of the trends identified in the Irish Sports

Monitor and other relevant research on participation rates. The National Sports Policy

Framework will consider the trends across the different population groups and sports, the

growth in participation in individual sports, the continuing popularity of recreational walking

and other trends identified to set the future strategic direction for Sport Ireland in the area

of participation.


Who should the Government target to increase participation levels in sport – e.g.

get the inactive to start participating; get the active more active; or other targets?

How can the reach and influence of the sports sector be used to get more people

active, especially those who have been inactive for a long time?

How should under-represented groups be targeted in order to narrow the existing

gradients in participation levels across the lifecycle, in particular disability, gender

and social gradients?

What is the scope for collaboration between different sports to promote greater

participation in sport at all levels?

How can support for traditional sports and new emerging sports be balanced with

increasing participation levels?

Can the sports sector provide more support in the delivery of sport in schools?


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How should the drop-off points in participation by children and young people be

addressed?

How should participation in sport be measured?

How should investment in participation be measured?

How can traditional and social media be more effective in promoting sport?

How can the potential of new technology be maximised to increase participation

in sport?

Are there other challenges and issues that need to be addressed in this area?


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5. High Performance

The last number of years have been very successful for Irish high performance sport with a

wide range of achievements by Irish athletes and teams at national and international level.

Our elite sportspeople have proven to be great ambassadors both at home and abroad and

fantastic role models for young people. Their performances and achievements can inspire

the next generation by encouraging sports participation at local level.

The most recent example is the performance by Team Ireland at the 2016 Olympic and

Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to 2 medals, the Olympic athletes achieved

16 top ten and 14 top twenty finishes, compared to 14 and 6 respectively in the London

2012 Games. Ireland’s Paralympic athletes won 11 medals at the Rio Games and achieved

22 top eight finishes. A full list of achievements from Rio 2016 is shown at Appendix 2.

Sport Ireland expenditure on High Performance Sport

The table and graph below shows expenditure on High Performance by Sport Ireland

(previously the Irish Sports Council) from 2006 to 2015.

Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)

High Performance † 8.5 11.7 14.8 11.7 11.7 12.3 11.7 11.5 12.9 11.7


% of total current expenditure 21% 22% 26% 23% 24% 26% 26% 26% 30% 26%

†These figures do not include administration costs

A breakdown of the High Performance expenditure is included at Appendix 3.

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

High Performance expenditure €m

Total current expenditure on sport €m


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High Performance structure

Sport Ireland is responsible for the improvement of standards in high performance sport.

With the establishment of Sport Ireland, all of the bodies connected with high performance

sport (Irish Institute of Sport, Coaching Ireland and National Sports Campus) are now

embedded in one entity. This presents a real opportunity to deliver a more enhanced and

integrated programme of work in order to achieve greater and more sustained high

performance success.

The Olympic Council of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland are key stakeholders in Irish high

performance sport. Sport Ireland had operational agreements in place with both

organisations for the period 2013-2016. These agreements provide a framework for how

the various interactions between the organisations worked up to and including the 2016 Rio

Games.

It is the aim of the high performance system to ensure that Ireland's performances in elite

international sport improve and to create consistent success at elite level. This is defined as

producing Irish athletes who can reach and compete in the finals at European, World,

Olympic and Paralympic level.

There are two specific funding programmes in place - the High Performance Programme and

the International Carding Scheme, which is the system used by Sport Ireland to provide

income support to elite athletes. In 2016, funding of almost €1.8 million has been provided

to 86 athletes from 14 sports through the International Carding Scheme. A list of all athletes

and teams receiving funding through the International Carding Scheme in 2016 is listed at

Appendix 4.

Performance Planning is the mechanism that Sport Ireland uses to invest in NGBs that have

High Performance Plans. It enables Sport Ireland to determine the medal potential of

individual sports and athletes. It provides the underpinning evidence which enables

investment decisions to be made where resources are targeted at sports best placed to

succeed at international level. It is the basis for the subsequent oversight of investment to

ensure that a return on investment is delivered for public funds. Sport Ireland (and

previously the Irish Sports Council) commissions a review of the high performance process

following each four-year Olympic and Paralympic cycle and the Rio 2016 Review has now

commenced.

As well as the funding programmes, the Institute of Sport at the National Sports Campus

provides support services directly to sports bodies, coaches and athletes, and athletes can

also avail of the world-class training facilities at the National Sports Campus. The Institute

of Sport was established following a key recommendation of the 2005 Athens Review (the

review of the Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004), with a vision of providing


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world leading service to elite Irish athletes. This includes sports science and medicine co-

ordination, athlete career and performance lifestyle support, and elite coach development

and education.

The Institute’s Athlete Career Development Programme provides career management

support to high performance athletes. This support typically involves athletes who are

managing part time employment as well as a full career as a high performance athlete. It

also provides preparation for a post-sport transition to the next career. This programme sits

within the broader Athlete Lifestyle support provision which also encompasses support for

athletes in education and development of personal life skills. The Career Development

Programme has four specific strands that are offered to athletes during their competitive

sport career and a holistic transition support at the point of retirement from sport.

In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, a comprehensive review of the current

high performance system will be carried out to find out if the system is working as

effectively as possible and if there are areas that could be improved. The review will

examine international high performance models and identify if there are best practice

structures that could be applied to the Irish system.


What targets should be set for high performance sport e.g. number of medals

won, podium finishes, impact on participation levels, others?

What are the strengths of the current high performance structures i.e. talent

identification and management process for elite athletes, supports for elite

athletes during and post their sporting career etc., and how can these be further

enhanced?

Is the balance right as to the focus of Government spending on the various

elements of high performance (carding scheme, coaching, NGBs, support services

etc.)?

Should the high performance structure be more centralised or be devolved to

individual NGBs and how should the respective roles of the Department, Sport

Ireland and NGBs be defined?

What criteria should be applied when identifying what sports should qualify for

High Performance support? Should the strategy be to fund a wide range of sports

or focus on a smaller number of sports?

What successful international high performance models could Ireland learn from?



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6. Local and Regional Facilities

Government investment in sports facilities, including indoor sports facilities, is provided

primarily through the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) and the Local Authority Swimming

Pool Programme (LASPP). The Sports Capital Programme is the Government’s primary

vehicle for supporting the development of local and regional sports facilities and the

purchase of sports equipment. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned

approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. In

particular, its objectives are to:

assist voluntary and community organisations, NGBs, local authorities, Education and

Training Boards (ETBs) and schools to develop high quality, safe, well-designed,

sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment

to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation

prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities

encourage the multi-purpose use of local, regional and national sports facilities by

clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport

Between 2011 and 2015, a total of almost €134 million was allocated1 under the Sports

Capital Programme for sporting facilities with €31 million allocated in 2012, €40.5 million

provided in 2014, and €41 million in 2015, and a further €21 million made through special

allocations.

These allocations have provided support for more than 2,600 projects nationally. The 2015

programme allocations announced in October 2015 provided funding for more than 40

sports. Almost €35 million was allocated for local projects while just over €6 million was

allocated to non-local projects. The application and assessment process places an emphasis

on rewarding clubs and organisations that share facilities as well as on applications received

from disadvantaged areas. In 2015, €14.5 million was allocated to 305 projects that are

located in or serve CLAR and RAPID areas.

The 2017 Estimates Statement confirmed that a new round of the Sports Capital Programme

will be open for applications in January 2017 with allocations expected later that year.

Allocations by the Sports Capital Programme 2014-2015 by sport* are shown overleaf as a

percentage of overall allocation. A full list of all allocations by sport is included in Appendix

5.

1 These are allocations figures and differ from the payment figures in the Financing Irish Sport section as it can

take grantees several years to draw down grants.


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*Gaelic Games includes Gaelic football (men’s and ladies’), hurling, camogie and handball

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport also administers the Local Authority

Swimming Pool Programme. Under the programme, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million

is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of the provision of new swimming

pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Since 2000, 50 projects have been completed.

Since 2011, there have also been allocations to Local Authority pools for works to improve

energy efficiency and disabled access.

In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, consideration will be given to how

future capital investment in sports facilities can best support both increased participation in

sport and physical activity and support for elite athletes. There is a need to ensure that

future provision of sports facilities avoids a duplication of services and that value for money

is achieved. Issues that will be considered include maximising the use of facilities;

addressing barriers to facility use and accessibility; the balance of funding between local and

regional facilities; better linking programme and capital investment in sports facilities; and

whether there is a need to subsidise the operation of certain publicly funded sports

facilities.


Page 20


Are any of the terms and conditions of the Sports Capital Programme acting as

barriers to facility development and/or to certain groups accessing funding?

Are there ways to achieve a more joined-up approach to the provision of publicly

funded sports facilities?

How to address barriers to facility use in order to maximise usage, and how to

ensure that sports facilities meet the highest accessibility standards for

participants, spectators and workers?

What should be the balance of funding between local and non-local sports

facilities?

What facilities can best drive increased participation and/or improved

performance and what should be the balance of funding between

facilities/equipment designed to increase participation and those aimed at

improving performance?

How to better link desired outcomes, current programmes and capital investment

in sports facilities?

Should some or all publicly funded sports facilities be self-financing or to what

extent, if any, should the public sector become involved in subsidising the

operation of these facilities?

Should state funding be focused on multi-sport facilities and equipment that can

support a large number of sports?

Should state funding be concentrated on sports that can be participated in for life?

How should the state best help in the provision of facilities/equipment for

minority sports, emerging sports and participation outside of formal club

structures?



Page 21

7. National Sports Campus

The National Sports Campus at Abbotstown, Blanchardstown is an important part of

Ireland’s sporting infrastructure. There has been significant progress at the Campus in the

last few years with the development of world-class training facilities where elite athletes

can prepare for national and international competitions. Athletes have access to the

services provided by the Institute of Sport and to a range of world-class facilities at the

National Sports Campus. The development of facilities at the Campus is proceeding on an

incremental basis as funding becomes available.

Funding for the National Sports Campus 2006-2015

Funding 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)

National Sports Campus 2.2 9.0 6.5 6.4 5.5 2.2 5.7 9.8 6.2 31.8

Development of National Sports Campus

The concept of a National Sports Campus located at Abbotstown, Blanchardstown in Dublin

first emerged in the 1999 PriceWaterhouseCooper feasibility study “A Stadium for a New

Century”. In 2000 the then Government adopted the study and decided to proceed with the

development of Sports Campus Ireland. At that time it was also decided to build the

National Aquatic Centre (NAC) as the first element of the Campus. Campus and Stadium

Ireland Development Limited (CSID) was established to progress the Campus Concept. The

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

National Sports Campus Funding

National Sports Campus Funding €m


Page 22

NAC, the first element of the Campus, was completed on time and within budget and

opened in March 2003.

The then Government subsequently decided in January 2004 to proceed with the phased

development of a National Sports Campus and CSID was requested to draw up a Phased

Development Programme, associated business case and annual budgets sufficient to deliver

the component elements of a National Sports Campus. After consultation with various

sporting bodies and other stakeholders, CSID drew up a Development Control Plan in

October 2004. The plan set out proposals for the phased development of the National

Sports Campus and estimated the cost at €199 million including VAT. Following

consideration of the Development Control Plan, the then Government decided in November

2005 to proceed with the development of the initial phase of the Sports Campus over a five

year period. Planning permission for the National Sports Campus was secured in 2009.

The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA), formally established on 1

January 2007, prepared revised delivery plans in 2010 that would enable the Project to be

delivered on a phased basis. The revised plans involved an incremental development

commencing with core indoor facilities at a cost of €40.6 million combined with a

partnership approach to developing field sport facilities through the leasing of sites reserved

on Campus for individual sports bodies. In June 2011, the then Government approved these

proposals for the development of the National Sports Campus on an incremental basis.

Current Facilities

The following facilities are currently in place at the National Sports Campus:

National Aquatic Centre

National Horse Sport Arena

National Modern Pentathlon Centre

National Diving Training Centre

High Performance Training Centre

FAI National Training Centre

GAA National Games Development Centre

Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitch facility

Two large multi-sport turf pitches accommodating Gaelic games, football and rugby

Usage of these facilities varies, for example visitor numbers to the National Aquatic Centre

in 2015 were 991,554 and the more recently developed National Horse Sport Arena

recorded 209 bookings/events in 2015. More detail on usage of the National Sports Campus

facilities is included at Appendix 6.


Page 23

Significant Projects in the Pipeline

Upcoming significant sports facility developments at the National Sports Campus are

detailed in the table below2.

Name Description Status

National Indoor Arena –Phase 1 World-class indoor training facilities

for a wide range of sports including

athletics, gymnastics, badminton,

volleyball, table tennis, basketball,

fencing and numerous others.

Scheduled for completion

in November 2016

IRFU Field Sport Facilities Rugby pitch development Partnership Development

Agreements in place.

Commencement is linked

with National Indoor

Arena Phase 2 below.

IHA Field Sport Facilities Hockey pitch development Partnership Development

Agreements in place.

National Indoor Arena – Phase

2

Covered Synthetic Pitch facility and

ancillary facilities (such as changing

rooms) designed primarily for rugby,

soccer and GAA, but capable of

accommodating all field sports.

Planning permission

granted. Work on cost

benefit analysis etc. is on-

going.

National Badminton and

Velodrome Training Centre

Training facilities for badminton and

cycling, comprising a 250m cycling

track and 12 badminton courts.

Planning permission

granted.

High Performance Cricket

Facility

High Performance training facility

including 14 grass nets, 90m outfield,

artificial practice area and seating

Funding provided by the

International Cricket

Council and private donor.

Ministerial approval

granted. Work on the

new facility is expected to

start, subject to the

necessary planning

permission, in early 2017.

2 The table addresses the more significant sports facility projects proposed. In terms of minor projects, work

on a National Cross Country Track and Jogging Trail were also completed in 2016.


Page 24

While no formal proposal has yet been received in the Department, it is understood that

there is an intention also to propose the development of elite athlete accommodation at

the Campus. Various options and funding possibilities have been mentioned, from the

option of refurbishing existing buildings on the Campus site to cater for elite athletes only,

to the option of constructing a high standard commercial hotel, using private investment,

which would also cater for paying guests.

Reviews

There have been two key reviews of the overall Campus project at 5-year intervals in the

past, leading to approval by Government of the phased development of the project. Now

that the phased delivery plan as approved by Government in 2011 is nearing completion, it

seems timely to conduct another review to determine the further strategic direction for the

Campus project.

Operation and management of the National Sports Campus

A subsidiary of Sport Ireland – NSCDA (Operations) Limited – is responsible for the day-to-

day management and operation of the National Sports Campus sporting facilities. It also

provides building management services for the office accommodation provided to NGBs on

Campus. In addition, the company took over responsibility in 2010 for the day-to-day

operation of Morton Stadium, the National Athletics Stadium in Santry.

An assessment of the operation of the National Sports Campus in terms of its focus and

objectives will be important to determine whether the main focus should be on facilities for

high performance sport and supporting our elite athletes, or on increasing participation in

sport by the general/local population, or as to whether a balance between both objectives

would be most appropriate. A decision on this would present a vision and focus for the

future, and would also be closely connected with the potential financing model choices

available for the Campus.

The development of the National Sports Campus not only constitutes a capital expense, it

also involves significant ongoing costs for the maintenance and operation of Campus

facilities. NSCDA (Operations) Ltd. receives, through Sport Ireland, an annual operational

subsidy towards costs associated with the operation of the National Aquatic Centre and

other Campus facilities. The subsidy provided in 2015 was €1.2 million. While the experience

internationally of similar facilities shows that subsidising by a public authority can generally

be regarded as the norm, it must be considered that the level of subsidy could potentially be

offset by focusing on the revenue which could be generated by the facilities, in particular

from such areas as Aquazone admittance fees for families, gym memberships etc. Greater

clarity on the strategic vision for the National Sports Campus, including the desired focus on

elite usage versus participation, or a mix, will be key also to help determine the desired

balance as between revenue generation and subsidy.


Page 25

Campus as the Home of Irish Sport

The National Sports Campus is widely regarded as the home of Irish Sport Administration.

Sports HQ is home to 20 National Governing Bodies including the FAI. Sport Ireland will

move its offices to the National Sports Campus, and a HQ for Special Olympics Ireland was

officially opened in November 2016. Further additional HQ accommodation for other NGBs

is also planned. The Campus Pavilion Building opened in September 2015 and provides

meeting and conference facilities for all NGBs of sport.

Vision for the Future

As it has been five years since the 2011 Government Decision regarding the development

and implementation plan for the National Sports Campus, the National Sports Policy

Framework provides an opportunity to settle a clear vision and underpin a new strategic

decision by Government on the future development of Campus. This will include

considering what the future vision for the Campus should be in terms of whether its primary

focus should be as a high performance facility for elite sport, towards increasing

participation, or finding a viable mix of both that can be accommodated. Consideration will

also be given to opportunities provided by different financing models, consistent with the

chosen vision, and to the appropriate balance to be struck between revenue generation and

subsidisation of the various facilities. Against that backdrop, the National Sports Policy

Framework will reflect on the priorities for the National Sports Campus over the medium

term.


What are the views of stakeholders on existing facilities at the National Sports

Campus and their usage? What are the success stories? Are there areas for

improvement?

What are the views of stakeholders on an overall vision for the Campus and where

its primary focus should be, in terms of supporting high performance or increasing

participation or is there a viable balance that can be met and what might that be?

What should be the priorities for the National Sports Campus over the medium

term?

What different models should be considered for financing of Campus facilities, for

example Exchequer funding, borrowings, philanthropy, private sector investment,

sponsorship etc.? What steps might be needed to ensure the appropriate balance

as between sports policy objectives and financing objectives?


Page 26

Are there views on the most appropriate model for the development of specific

projects already proposed or anticipated to be proposed (e.g. National Badminton

and Velodrome Training Centre, Athlete Accommodation) and financing for same?

Should there be a stronger focus towards generating revenue from the various

facilities at Campus in order to cover costs and thereby reduce the overall

requirement for subsidy? Are there views on appropriate access/pricing strategies

for the various facilities?

Are there other gaps, challenges or issues that need to be addressed in this area?


Page 27

8. Governance

It is vital that the highest standards of governance are in place across all levels of Irish sport

to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency across organisational activities and

support the integrity of sport both at home and abroad. The implementation of good

governance practices in sport has improved significantly in recent years. Sport Ireland has

worked closely with NGBs to provide supports and services with a focus on improving

governance within sports bodies, including support for strategic planning, internal audit and

financial management. There is an established procedure in place for Sport Ireland to

provide support to any particular governing body that encounters difficulties.

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has published a ‘Corporate Governance

Standard for the Civil Service’8 which details the core principles to which Government

Departments and bodies under their aegis adhere. The implementation of the Standard

across the Civil Service presents an opportunity to formally define current arrangements

and seek to strengthen governance across Departments. It is being implemented as a key

part of Civil Service Renewal. In line with this standard, the Department of Transport,

Tourism and Sport published a Corporate Governance Framework9 in April 2016 which sets

out a comprehensive overview of the corporate governance arrangements that exist and

operate within the Department. The framework also provides an overview of the approach

applied in the external governance and oversight of the agencies under the aegis of the

Department including Sport Ireland.

The Department is responsible for the corporate governance of Sport Ireland, and liaises on

an on-going basis with Sport Ireland regarding implementation of its strategy, financial

controls and work programme priorities. The development of the National Sports Policy

Framework provides an opportunity to consider options for oversight of Sport Ireland, as

the State Agency responsible for the delivery of sport policy. This may include options such

as regular reviews of performance, how Sport Ireland manages its relationship with its many

key stakeholders and a standardised approach to budget approval and business planning.

Sport Ireland

As a State Body, Sport Ireland must comply fully with the provisions of the Sport Ireland Act

2015 and with the requirements of the 2009 Department of Finance Code of Practice for the

Governance of State Bodies10, in particular in meeting its statutory obligations and

performance targets. Sport Ireland is also required to ensure all the necessary frameworks,

including: those for risk management, internal audit and the Public Spending Code11 are

fully complied with and that all of its committees conform to the highest standards of

corporate governance.


Page 28

Sport Ireland has an important role in governance issues for NGBs and in ensuring that

taxpayers’ money is used in the most effective way and is properly accounted for. However

it is important that NGBs, which are independent entities, have some autonomy in terms of

decision making within their own organisations.

Sport Ireland operates a recognition process for emerging sports/disciplines wishing to

become recognised as a National Governing Body of sport. There is a process for

recognition and criteria that must be met. The applicant should be able to demonstrate

that it is a functioning corporate body, is affiliated with a relevant international

organisation, is operating as the governing authority with rules etc. and has clubs and

memberships around the country.

National Governing Bodies of Sport

The NGBs are central to Irish sport and the achievement of sports policy objectives around

participation, performance and excellence. It is important to recognise that not one size fits

all and NGBs can range from small organisations run by a number of volunteers to large

scale organisations run by full time administrators. However, whatever the size of the

organisation, sports organisations in receipt of public funding should have appropriate

governance structures in place. The important elements of good governance include:

- Integrity

- Fair Procedure, Transparency and Accountability

- Leadership to include defining role of board

- A balanced, skilled and objective board

- Implementation of controls, checks and balances, and

- Engaging with the sporting landscape and stakeholders.

The National Sports Policy Framework will seek to set out governance procedures for Irish

sport. This will include clarifying the roles of the Department, Sport Ireland, NGBs and all

sports bodies in receipt of public funding, and ensuring that appropriate procedures are in

place in Sport Ireland so that all NGBs are audited appropriately with a view to addressing

any governance issues. The policy will consider options to uphold the highest standards of

governance in sport including developing a Governance Code for Sport. Ensuring gender

equality in the governance of sport in Ireland is an important objective and consideration

will be given to how to best ensure women’s involvement in senior positions in sports

leadership including the option to require NGBs to meet a gender balance target.


Page 29


What best practice measures are already in place or are recommended to be

adopted which help uphold the highest standards of governance in sporting

bodies generally?

What is the appropriate role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

around governance of sporting organisations?

What is the appropriate role of Sport Ireland in terms of governance?

What works well in the current recognition process for national governing bodies

of sport and are there areas for improvement?

What changes are needed to the governance structures in place for sporting

bodies to improve the accountability, fairness and transparency across

organisational activities and the integrity of Irish sport?

What are the views of stakeholders on introducing requirements for gender

balance in NGB leadership?



Page 30

9. Coaching Coaching is recognised as critical to the advancement of sport at every level and in every

aspect. Coaching Ireland, which is based at the University of Limerick, is the unit within

Sport Ireland that has the lead role in the development of coaching in Ireland on an all-island

basis. It is responsible for improving the standards of coaches and coaching and developing

coaches and tutors at all levels in sport.

Coaching Ireland works in partnership with the NGBs in the delivery of the Coaching

Development Plan for Ireland (CDPI) within the context of the policies of Sport Ireland and

Sport Northern Ireland and the All Island Coaching Strategy. Within the CDPI is the Coach

Development Framework which comprises of four levels, ranging from an apprentice coach

up to master coach.

Working with its partners Coaching Ireland develops, implements, manages and quality

assures coach certification, accreditation, continuing professional development and

licensing systems on an all-island basis. The role includes highlighting the importance of

quality coaching in developing athletes and providing opportunities for participants.

Sport Ireland expenditure on coaching

The table below shows expenditure on coaching by Sport Ireland (previously the Irish Sports

Council) from 2006-2015.

Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)

Coaching (€m) 1.7 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.9

Total current expenditure on sport 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3

% of total current expenditure 4.2% 3.7% 3.3% 3.7% 2.8% 2.8% 2.9% 2.3% 2.3% 2.0%


How can it be ensured that sports coaching is as effective as possible at all levels

and that coaches are given the necessary support to work with a variety of people,

including children, older people and people with disabilities?

How effective are the current coaching structures?

Are there areas within the current coaching structures that could be improved?



Page 31

10. Volunteer engagement

Volunteer engagement plays a pivotal role in Irish sport at all levels in addition to

contributing to social and economic development. Volunteering in sport has benefits both

for those volunteering and those who are able to participate in sport because of volunteers.

It can build social inclusion and community cohesion and help develop skills which can be

used in the workplace.

It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 volunteers involved in sport in Ireland

and sport is the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in the country. There are many

different types of volunteers in sport in areas varying from administration to coaching and

ranging from parents volunteering at their local club to administrators at the highest level of

governing bodies. Different types of volunteers with different skills are required for

different roles. A wide range of skills are required across the entire workforce involved in

the administration of Irish sport, whether they are volunteers or paid employees. These

range from ‘hard skills’ such as coaching, administration, media, management, governance

and human resources to ‘soft skills’ such as teamwork, leadership and motivation.

The 2011 Irish Sports Monitor12 found that volunteering increased significantly between

2009 and 2011, with a greater proportion of people getting involved in the provision of

transport and coaching roles. It surmised that the increased free time that many people had

due to increased unemployment and other recessionary effects may have contributed

towards greater social involvement in sporting structures. While levels remained largely

unchanged in 2013, the Irish Sport Monitor Annual Report 2015 shows a slight decrease,

from 13.3% to 12.9%.

The 2010 report on the Assessment of Economic Impact of Sport in Ireland estimated the

value of volunteering in Ireland in 2008 to be between a lower bound estimate (based on

the minimum wage) of €321 million and a higher bound estimate (based on the average

industrial wage) of €582 million. Using the same calculations, the 2013 Irish Sports

Monitor13 estimated that the higher bound estimate for 2013 was over €1.3 billion a year.

Without sports volunteers, there would undoubtedly be fewer sports activities and those

activities would be expensive to produce. This voluntary workforce does however need to

be supported and developed and challenges have been identified in relation to the

recruitment and retention of volunteers. Due to the increasing professionalisation of sport

there are additional compliance requirements at the various levels. This can act as a barrier

for volunteers; therefore support at local and national level is required to provide adequate

training to cater for additional legal requirements.


Page 32

In developing the National Sports Policy Framework, consideration will be given to the

structures needed to encourage more people to volunteer in sport and to retain and

support existing volunteers.


Where are the skills gaps in the sport workforce?

What are the challenges facing the sports sector in recruiting and retaining

volunteers?

Can success stories be identified in order to show ways to encourage more people

to volunteer in sport or existing volunteers to stay engaged over a longer period?

Are there best practice examples of volunteering in other sectors that could be

applied to the sport sector?

What are the motivation challenges for volunteers in sport?

What changes, if any, are needed to the coaching structures for volunteers in

sport?

Is the pool of potential volunteers restricted to people already engaged with a

sport or can the net be cast wider in the local community?

Are there ways to link corporate social initiatives to support volunteer

engagement in sport?

Is there scope for non-formal, community based and/or formal education

opportunities for adults that could assist NGBs in supporting volunteers in order to

meet the changing requirements of sport administration, coaching etc.?



Page 33

11. Safety in sport

The safety of all those involved in sport is paramount whether as participants, competitors,

spectators, volunteers, workers etc.

The Code of Practice for Safety at Sports Grounds14 is a voluntary code published in 1996

under the Department of Education (which was then also responsible for sport). The code

provides comprehensive guidelines for the organisers of sports events and ground

administrators, who have primary responsibility to ensure safety for spectators at sports

events. This responsibility should be carried out in compliance with existing legislation and

best practice in this area and working in tandem with the relevant statutory authorities.

Issues related to crowd safety in general are governed by legislative provisions operating

under the aegis of a number of Government Departments including the Departments of

Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government; Health; Jobs, Enterprise and

Innovation; and Justice. The Local Authorities, the Garda Síochána and the Health Service

Executive all play a key role in assisting ground management and event organisers in

meeting their responsibilities.

National Governing Bodies of Sport responsible for large events have regard to the Code of

Practice in event management. There have been no updates or reviews to the Code of

Practice since it was published in 1996. Any review would require the expertise and

assistance of those statutory stakeholders involved in the issue of crowd safety.

Sport Ireland has no statutory role or remit with regard to monitoring or reviewing the

safety standards in use by, or applicable to NGBs. Sport Ireland does not review, accredit or

endorse any safety standards as part of NGB recognition criteria. NGBs should have regard

to existing legislation and guidance issued by relevant statutory agencies. From time to

time, individual NGBs publish safety guidance and recognised good practice for their sport

(for example NGBs in the adventure activity sector). However, these are not reviewed or

approved by Sport Ireland.

In recent years, various sporting organisations, individual sportspeople and others have

been raising awareness and educating people on concussion and head injury. NGBs have

recognised the need to have guidelines and procedures in place around dealing with

concussion. Some NGBs have guidelines regarding concussion and head injury, which stress

the importance of ensuring the health and well-being of players. These NGBs are working to

deliver the message to their players, coaches and everyone who is involved in their games

that concussion and head injury is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. The common

principles across all of the guidelines are that any player suspected of having received a

concussion should be removed immediately from play and that players who are concussed

should take no further part in the match or training. The importance of managers, coaches


Page 34

and officials being aware of the symptoms of concussion in order to ensure that it is

recognised and managed appropriately cannot be over emphasised.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Health and the

Department of Education and Skills are developing guidelines on concussion in sport and in

school settings and will consult with relevant stakeholders during this process.


What particular safety challenges need to be addressed around sport?

What more might the Government and others do to ensure safety in sport?

What should be the role of NGBs in setting and overseeing appropriate safety

standards in sport?

What standards and safety guidance should be in place for sports and leisure

facilities?



Page 35

12. Integrity of sport and international influence

As outlined earlier in the consultation document, it is important to implement good

governance practices across all areas of Irish sport, to continue to ensure that appropriate

procedures are in place and to adapt to new risks and threats to the integrity of sport.

Integrity issues such as anti-doping, corruption and match-fixing are growing global

problems and the fight against these issues is being addressed in international forums.

Anti-Doping

The Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme was established in 1999 and is now operated by

Sport Ireland. It is an essential ethical foundation to Irish sport and a central pillar of Sport

Ireland’s work. The main visions of the programme are:

Education: To facilitate the development and delivery of quality education

programmes for all major stakeholders.

Testing: To provide an effective, quality-driven testing programme.

Research: To establish a long-term research programme which complements and

progresses anti-doping research nationally and internationally.

International: To keep abreast of international best practice and to collaborate with

relevant international initiatives.

Administration: To develop and maintain quality standards to ensure correct and

transparent administrative procedures.

Sport Ireland has a strong working relationship with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

and endeavours to be at the forefront of all WADA initiatives. WADA was established in

1999 as an international independent agency composed of and funded equally by the sport

movement and governments of the world. Ireland has ratified the Council of Europe

Convention on Anti-Doping and the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in

Sport which binds the government to the implementation of a fully functioning National

Anti-Doping Programme which complies with all of the relevant articles of the WADA Code.

Sport Ireland expenditure on Anti-Doping

The following table shows expenditure on Anti-Doping by Sport Ireland (previously the Irish

Sports Council) from 2006-2015.

Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

(€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m) (€m)

Anti-Doping 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9


% of total current expenditure 2.7% 1.7% 1.6% 1.5% 1.4% 1.7% 1.8% 1.8% 2.1% 2.0%


Page 36

Match-Fixing

A number of NGBs have administrative rules or practices in place around the misconduct of

competitors including match-fixing. In 2012, in response to the growing global threat of

match-fixing in sport, the Council of Europe invited parties to the European Cultural

Convention to begin negotiations for a Convention against the manipulation of sports

results. Negotiations began in October 2012 and the drafting group comprised of over 50

delegations, including Ireland. The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of

Sports Competitions was adopted in July 2014 and opened for signature in September 2014.

The Convention will come into force following ratification by at least five signatories, three

of which must be members of the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe match-fixing convention covers a number of complex cross-

departmental issues such as gambling, money laundering, data protection and criminal

issues. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has begun the process of

consideration of Ireland’s signature and ratification of the Convention. This will be done in

consultation with all Government Departments and stakeholders with a role in this area and

identification of the steps Ireland needs to take to comply with the provisions of the

Convention.

Sport and the EU

Sport has been an EU competence since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in

December 2009. While sports policy remains a matter for EU Member States, the EU

competence gives the EU and its 28 Member States the opportunity to work more closely

together to address issues of common interest. It also gives the EU the opportunity to

speak with one voice internationally particularly in areas such as the fight against doping.

Since 2010, EU sports ministers meet twice-yearly in a formal context as part of the

Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. These meetings are a forum to adopt political

statements on priorities for EU action and react to topical issues in the field of sport. The

National Sports Policy Framework will consider the impact on sport, if any, from the UK

electorate’s decision in June 2016 to leave the European Union.

Sport Ireland is the national coordinator for the European Week of Sport in Ireland which is

an initiative of the European Commission. The first week in 2015 ran from the 7-30

September and over 300 sporting events were delivered throughout the country over that

time. The second European Week of Sport took place between 10-18 September 2016 and

consisted of 480 events with over 50,000 participants.

A specific EU funding programme for sport was included for the first time in the EU

Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport for 2014-2020. The

Erasmus+ programme has an overall budget of €14.7 billion for the seven years, with a sport

budget of almost €266 million. The sport programme is focusing on transnational projects


Page 37

supporting grassroots sport and tackling cross-border challenges such as match-fixing,

doping, violence and racism, as well as promoting good governance, gender equality, social

inclusion and physical activity for all.


How effective are the existing structures in place to uphold the integrity of Irish

sport across all areas including the fight against doping, match-fixing and

corruption and are there areas that could be improved?

Are there ways that Ireland can more effectively influence international sport

issues?

Are there best practice international models which Ireland could benefit from?



Page 38

13. Sport in a cross-sectoral context

There is a wide range of organisations and entities involved in sport in Ireland, from local to

national level, and greater clarity is needed on the strategic direction, desired outcomes and

funding for sport across all levels. The development of the National Sports Policy

Framework will also consider the cross-sectoral role of sport in the economy, health,

education, tourism, business and social areas and how sport can help deliver Government

objectives in these areas.

At government level, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for

the development of sport policy but there are a number of other Government departments

with an interest in sport. These include the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; the

Department of Education and Skills; the Department of Health; the Department of Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Government; the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional,

Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and the relevant State agencies under the remit of these

Departments. The local authorities have a huge role to play in the delivery of sport

programmes and infrastructure at regional and local level.

There is a wide range of sport related issues which require a more cohesive cross-

government/sectoral policy approach. Some of the key areas include sport in schools;

outdoor recreation; cycling and walking (active travel); and workplaces. There has been

improved coordination and partnership in recent years between Government departments

in the area of sport, most recently in the development of the cross-sectoral National

Physical Activity Plan. The cross-sectoral working group that developed the plan was co-

chaired by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Health

and also included representatives from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the

Department of Education and Skills, Local Authorities and key stakeholders.

There is extensive cooperation on an all-island basis in the area of sport. Officials of the

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department for Communities in

Northern Ireland meet regularly to discuss sporting issues of mutual interest. Sport Ireland

and Sport Northern Ireland also liaise and engage in a number of high level and strategic

programmes which require a joint approach including anti-doping, Code of Ethics, high

performance, NGB development and research. Coaching Ireland operates on an all-island

basis and many of the NGBs are also organised on an all-island basis.

Sport Ireland works with the NGBs and LSPs to develop and deliver strategies at national

and local level to increase participation in sport and support high performance. Sports clubs

are pivotal to providing opportunities for participation in sport and increasing levels of

participation in local communities. In recent years, many sports clubs are broadening their


Page 39

programmes beyond just sport and providing programmes focussing on health and social

initiatives.

In order to facilitate engagement in sport and physical activity across the life course, the

development of physically literacy in children and young people is vital. The role of schools

in this area and the link between Physical Education in schools and sport in local

communities is a key issue that has been raised by many stakeholders in recent years. It is

also important to recognise the crucial role of parents in embedding sport and physical

activity into the daily lives of children.

There is existing cooperation between sport and education around the area of physical

activity. Sport Ireland has been delivering the Buntús programmes for primary schools since

2001 through the LSPs to complement the games strand of the PE curriculum and support

teachers. A number of the NGBs also deliver Buntús sports specific programmes to schools

and there are links between sports clubs and schools in some local communities. There is

an opportunity to build on these existing links and to further enhance collaboration

between the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Education

and Skills in the area of sport. There may also be scope for improved cooperation around

the provision of sports infrastructure.

The private sector also has a role in the delivery of public policy objectives in sport and

providing opportunities for participation in sport. Personal exercise and swimming are two

of the most popular sports activities identified in the Irish Sports Monitor and without the

role of the private sector, much fewer people would be able to participate in these sports.

There is a need to adopt a more joined-up approach on the structures and roles for the

delivery of sport policy across all levels of Irish sport. It is a complex landscape and this is

not an easy task but it is necessary to ensure that optimal policy outcomes are articulated,

resources and funding are targeted effectively, that there is no duplication of functions and

that strategies can be achieved and targets met. It is important that there is ongoing

engagement with all stakeholders including the voluntary and community sector,

corporate/commercial sector, media and key stakeholder groups such as parents, athletes,

players, coaches, teachers etc.


What are the particular challenges presented by the complex landscape identified

above?

Are there opportunities for the sports sector to work more effectively with other

sectors and for the public and private sector to work together to deliver public

policy objectives in sport?


Page 40

How to get the best value in terms of sports policy objectives from the range of

investment by different public entities in sport programmes and infrastructure?

How can the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and other Government

departments work better together for the good of sport?

What formal structure/s needs to be put in place to best support the

implementation of and accountability of a cross-Government sports policy across a

range of government departments, local authorities, statutory and other bodies?



Page 41

14. Outdoor recreation

The Irish Sports Monitor has shown an upsurge in recent years in participation in outdoor

recreational activities such as walking, running, cycling and triathlon. Outdoor sports

activities such as hiking, cycling, and water sports are also becoming very popular activities

in attracting overseas visitors, and large participative sporting events, such as adventure

races, attract increasing numbers of overseas competitors.

Outdoor recreation covers a wide range of activities including canoeing, cycling, diving,

kayaking, orienteering, hill walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, rowing, sailing,

snorkelling and triathlon. The diverse policy issues around outdoor recreation includes the

following:

- access

- development, maintenance and promotion of outdoor recreation facilities

- regulation of outdoor recreation/adventure activities

- environmental protection

- rural development

- increasing participation in outdoor recreation (recreational walking is the most

popular form of physical activity in Ireland with over 2 million participating every

week)

- smarter travel

- tourism initiatives

At present, there are a number of Government Departments and State Bodies involved in

the area of outdoor recreation with a range of structures in place that are not currently

administered or funded in a joined-up approach. The main Departments are the

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; the Department of Housing, Planning,

Community and Local Government; and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural

and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has a significant remit for outdoor

recreation under each of its three areas of statutory responsibility. The Department is

responsible for the smarter travel programme and implementation of the national cycling

framework policy. Outdoor recreation tourism has received significant support from Fáilte

Ireland.

Sport Ireland has a statutory function to develop strategies for increasing participation in

recreational sport at national and local level and to co-ordinate the implementation of those

strategies by all involved in promoting recreational sport and providing recreational

facilities. Sport Ireland provides funding to a wide range of NGBs involved in outdoor

recreation and also leads the national ‘Get Ireland Walking’ Programme. The National Trails


Page 42

Office (NTO) of Sport Ireland coordinates and drives the implementation of the Irish Trails

Strategy and promotes the use of recreational trails in Ireland. The NTO also maintains a

national trails register.

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is responsible for

local authorities and planning policy. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and

Gaeltacht Affairs chairs Comhairle na Tuaithe and has a rural recreation unit in place to

coordinate the implementation of the national countryside recreation strategy and the

national walks scheme (maintenance programme), and is responsible for the Rural

Recreation Officer scheme.

Comhairle na Tuaithe was established in 2004 to address the issue of access to the

countryside, to develop a countryside code and to develop a countryside recreation

strategy. It is comprised of representatives of the farming organisations, recreational users

of the countryside and state bodies with a responsibility or interest in the countryside. In

2015, the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government initiated

a review of Comhairle na Tuaithe and the 2006 National Countryside Recreation Strategy.

This review is ongoing.

Other Government Departments with an outdoor recreation remit include the Department

of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Climate Change, Communications

and Natural Resources; the Department of Education and Skills; and the Department of

Social Protection. The National Sports Policy Framework will seek to set out the optimal

approach for the development of a joint policy and strategy in this area, taking account of

the wide range of issues involved and in consultation with other Government Departments

with a role in this area.


Given the increasing popularity of participation in outdoor recreational activities,

should sport policy focus on further increasing participation levels in this area and

getting inactive people participating in physical activity?

Given the diverse range of policy issues involved in outdoor recreation, what

formal structure needs to be put in place to best support both the implementation

and accountability of a cross-Government policy in this area across a range of

government departments, statutory and other bodies?

Are there additional opportunities to promote participation in adventure activities

and outdoor sports to overseas visitors?



Page 43

15. Sports Tourism

Why do people visit a country? Ultimately, they want to have a good time and enjoy new

experiences. Sports Tourism has the potential to provide the spectacle and excitement that

tourists are looking for when they search for a destination to provide new and compelling

experiences. The sports tourism industry is worth an estimated €450bn globally and is the

fastest growing tourism sector. During 2014, overseas activity/sport tourism was worth

€900m to Ireland. Tourists engaged in a range of non-competitive sporting activities such

as cycling, golf, hiking, walking, angling and water based pursuits. Ireland’s strong position

as a destination for these outdoor activities assists in the regional diversification of tourism,

and supports Ireland’s overall reputation as a clean, green country that offers a healthy

lifestyle and thus enhances our attractiveness as a location of choice for high-skilled

employment, investment and entrepreneurship. Sports Tourism is a high yield sector with

the adventure or sports traveller spending on average 40% higher than the average

overseas holiday maker. The largest source market (50%) is mainland Europe and visitors

stay in Ireland on average 7 nights.

Hosting sports events generates additional international visitors and puts Ireland onto travel

itineraries as a holiday destination. Events are key motivators for travellers. Every year

tourists arrive in Ireland attracted by sporting events across a wide range of disciplines.

Ireland has a proven record of hosting and delivering international sporting events,

including the Ryder Cup (2006), Solheim Cup (2011), Tall Ships Race (Waterford & Dublin),

Heineken Cup (2013) American Football Games (2012, 2014 and 2016) and the Giro d’Italia

(Belfast to Dublin, 2014). Events of scale including the successful bids to host the Women’s

Rugby World Cup in 2017 and the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament at the Aviva Stadium, as well

as the all-Island bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, further demonstrate an appetite to

attract and host international sporting events in the future.

Many global host destinations have refocused their event bidding ambitions on foot of the

global economic crisis, with established destinations tailoring their prospecting to events

which have the potential to deliver economic return and are aligned to existing sporting

infrastructure. Against this backdrop there is a sense that Ireland could secure a larger piece

of the Sports Tourism market.

Fáilte Ireland is intensely focused on developing and growing a strong stable pipeline of

events to ensure sustainable growth and recognise sport tourism as a key sector. They have

created a dedicated and expert “Event Ireland” team to identify, bid for, and win events for

Ireland. During 2015, the Fáilte Ireland team supported National Governing Bodies in

securing 9 future events for Ireland, with the potential to deliver 90,000 bednights.


Page 44

Event Ireland’s goal is to act as Ireland’s bidding agency, and as such an evolving range of

practical and financial supports are available at all stages of the bid process from initial

identification to post event. Event Ireland are ideally looking for opportunities that are

available for bidding, deliver international bednights, and have sufficient lead-in time and

private sector investment.

Available supports are highlighted in the following table:

Stage Summary Event Ireland Supports

Identification Identification of Suitable

Event & Potential

Interest

Research & Event Prospecting

Identification of suitable events

Pre-bid Feasibility & Decision to

Bid

Feasibility & Risk Assessment

Commitment of Future Support

Travel to preceding event for feasibility purposes

Bidding Hosting Proposition

Campaign

Agreeing Host Contract

Hosted Site inspections for decision makers

Personalised and hosted Familiarisation trips

Bid Documentation/collateral preparation and

production

Destination Information/ Letters of Support

Marketing support, personalised videos & campaigns

Budget Planning

Bid presentation travel costs & Networking Events

Contract negotiation and support

Access to Mentoring support

Financial support towards suitable event

Preparation Developing Readiness

Leveraging Benefits

Campaign Promotion

Marketing Campaign/PR & Promotion via channels

Introduction to industry trade partners

Evolving supports as required by NGB

Staging Event Delivery

Realising Benefits

Evolving supports as required by NGB

Communications/ Collateral/Signage

Minister Speaking Opportunities

Hosted Observer Programmes

Lord Mayor Reception

Post Event Capture data,

knowledge, experience

Feedback Loop

Telling the Story

Economic Impact Studies

Building case studies/ Narrative of Ireland as a host

destination

Identification of Further Events

The Government’s Tourism Policy Statement, “People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to

2025”, recognises that sporting events (including large scale international ones but also

smaller participative sporting events) should play a part in achieving our future tourism


Page 45

growth targets. A Tourism Action Plan for the period 2016-2018 was launched on 28

January 2016. The Action Plan was prepared by the Tourism Leadership Group which

includes representatives from a broad range of tourism stakeholders from the public and

private sector. The Plan contains 23 Actions which will be carried out in order to help

achieve the overall policy objectives of the tourism policy statement and includes a

commitment that the National Sports Policy Framework will include specific objectives with

regard to sports-related tourism. Actions are also included in relation to the 2023 Rugby

World Cup bid and the Plan also commits that Fáilte Ireland will engage with relevant

sporting bodies to make their activities more accessible to overseas visitors.


How can the objectives of the sport and tourism sectors be married?

Are stakeholders aware of the current structure and supports available to attract

events to Ireland?

What changes would stakeholders make to the structure and supports available?

What type of events should Ireland seek to attract in order to ensure its fair share

of the global sports tourism market? Where should Ireland position itself in order

to attract sports tourism?

Does sport have a role in achieving regionality and seasonality objectives in

tourism? Can we attract more sports tourists to destinations outside Dublin and

during the shoulder season? How can this be achieved?



Page 46

16. Financing Irish Sport

Government funding for sport in 2016 is €126 million, which is an increase of 40% on the

2015 allocation. It is recognised that the decrease in public funding available for sport in

recent years due to the economic crisis has put pressure on the finances of local and

national sporting organisations, the majority of whom are heavily reliant on Exchequer

funding.

Sports Programme Funding 2006-2015

Irish Sports

Council (€m)

National

Sports

Campus (€m)

Sports Capital

Programme

(€m)

Local Authority

Swimming Pools

Programme (€m)

Total

(€m)

2006 40.9 2.2 60.0 22.8 125.9

2007 54.0 9.0 63.7 27.8 154.5

2008 57.2 6.5 60.1 20.5 144.3

2009 51.7 6.4 58.7 11.7 128.5

2010 49.6 5.5 50.0 3.1 108.2

2011 46.8 2.2 23.4 9.5 81.9

2012 44.5 5.7 19.8 7.7 77.7

2013 43.4 9.8 13.6 5.5 72.3

2014 43.2 6.2 20.9 0.9 71.2

2015 44.3* 31.8 28.0 1.6 105.7

Total (€m) 475.6 85.3 398.2 111.1 1070.2

*Irish Sports Council Figure for 2015 includes Dormant Account Funding of €1.8 million

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Current and Capital funding for Sport 2006 to 2015

Funding for Sport €m


Page 47

Current programme expenditure by Sport Ireland 2006-2015 (previously the Irish Sports Council)

Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

€m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m

Participation † 25.4 33.9 33.7 32.6 31.1 29.1 26.7 25.7 25.0 27.5

High Performance † 8.5 11.7 14.8 11.7 11.7 12.3 11.7 11.5 13.0 11.7

Coaching 1.7 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.9

Anti Doping † 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9

Other Costs⁰ 4.3 5.5 6.0 4.7 4.8 3.2 4.1 4.3 3.4 3.2

Total 40.9 54.0 57.2 51.7 49.6 46.8 44.5 43.4 43.2 44.3

†These figures do not include administration costs ⁰Other costs include Direct Programming Costs, Staffing Costs and other Miscellaneous Expenses NOTE: Participation Figure for 2015 includes Dormant Account Funding of €1,795,000

Breakdown between Participation and High Performance expenditure by Sport Ireland 2006-2015

Expenditure 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Participation † 62% 63% 59% 63% 63% 62% 60% 59% 58% 62%

High Performance † 21% 22% 26% 23% 24% 26% 26% 26% 30% 26%

It is important that future funding for sport is targeted at the right interventions. It is also

important that sports organisations which are reliant on Exchequer funding should consider

ways to diversify their income streams. While some national governing bodies of sport are

successful in generating commercial revenue including sponsorship, broadcast rights and

commercial partnerships, many sports organisations, particularly smaller bodies, find it

difficult to generate commercial investment. Other sectors such as the arts and culture

sector have benefitted from philanthropic support, and this is an area that could be

explored for the sports sector.

The development of the National Sports Policy Framework will consider options for the

future financing of sport. This will include where the focus of future Government funding

for sport should be targeted, the scope to introduce a system of multi-annual programme

funding for sport and the potential for other funding sources such as fundraising,

membership fees, philanthropy, media rights etc.

A number of cross-departmental issues have arisen in recent years which have an impact on

sport and the ability of sports organisations to generate income. These include alcohol

sponsorship of sports events and the designation of sporting events as free-to-air television

events. The National Sports Policy Framework will consider these and other cross-sectoral

issues and the continued role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in

inputting to policy decisions in these areas.


Page 48


As there will always be competition for Government resources between different

priorities, what is the most significant reason why sports funding should be

maintained/ increased?

How can funding for sport be optimised while keeping public sector objectives

firmly central?

What would be the appropriate balance of Government funding between high

performance and participation?

How can new sources of commercial investment into sport and/or philanthropic

contributions to sport and sports bodies be encouraged?

Is it possible for some governing bodies, depending on size, to be self-sustaining?

In the case of smaller NGBs which are predominantly financed by public funding,

would it be a more effective use of funds to provide shared supports for

administration etc.?

How can it be ensured that commercial revenue available to certain sports benefit

the grassroots level of that sport?



Page 49

17. Measuring the impact of sport

The new National Sports Policy Framework will consider how the impact of sport should be

measured and identify the mechanisms that should be put in place to evaluate the short,

medium and long-term effectiveness of funding, policies and interventions in sport. There is

a need to identify clear and comprehensive outputs and outcomes across all areas of the

policy framework. This will involve consideration of issues wider than levels of participation

in sport and the number of medals won and looking at the broader outcomes that sport can

deliver. Sport’s impact across a range of issues will be considered including physical and

mental wellbeing; individual development; social and community development; and

economic development.

It is important to have a sound evidence base to feed into the development of policy and

measure the impact of policies delivered. Continued research across all areas of sport is a

key tool and the National Sports Policy Framework will consider if there are gaps in current

research on sport and the priorities for the coming years.


How should Government investment in sport be measured?

How can appropriate evaluative mechanisms be developed which inform on the

short, medium and long-term effectiveness of funding, policies and interventions

in sport?

What outputs and outcomes should be included across the different areas of the

sports policy framework?

How can the broader outcomes from sport be quantified?

Are there gaps in the current evidence base for sport?



Page 50

Appendix 1 - Trends in participation levels in

sport 2007-2015

Participation in Sport 2007-2015

.

Participation in Sport by Gender 2007 – 2015

0

10

20

30

40

50

2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015

Overall Participation in Sport

% Participation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015

Men

Women


Page 51

Participation in Sport by Employment Status

Participation in Sport by Educational Qualification

.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015

Employed

Self-Employed

Unemployed - Looking forWork

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2007 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015

Primary/Lower

Junior Certificate

Leaving Certificate

Third Level


Page 52

Appendix 2 – Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic

Performances by Team Ireland

Olympic Games

Team Ireland Olympic Performance

Top 10 Top 20

Rio 2016 16 14 (30 total)

London 2012 14 6 (20 total)

Beijing 2008 9 5 (14 total)

Athens 2004 3 10 (13 total)

Top 8 Event Result

Paul O’Donovan & Gary O’Donovan Rowing – LM2x Silver Medal

Annalise Murphy Sailing – Laser Radial Silver Medal

Robert Heffernan 50km Race Walks 6th Place

Thomas Barr 400m Hurdles 4th Place

Stephen Donnelly Boxing – 69kg Quarter Final

Katie Taylor Boxing – 60kg Quarter Final

Oliver Dingley Diving – 3m Springboard 8th Place

Eventing Team Eventing 8th Place

Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe Modern Pentathlon 8th Place

Natalya Coyle Modern Pentathlon 7th Place

Sinead Jennings & Claire Lambe Rowing – LW2x 6th Place

Michael Conlon Boxing – 56kg Quarter Final

Top 10 Event Result

Scott Evans Badminton – Singles Joint 9th Place

Jonty Evans Individual Eventing 9th Place

Hockey Team Men’s Hockey Ranked 10th in world

Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern Sailing – 49er 10th Place

Top 16 Event Result

Joe Ward Boxing – 69kg Last 16

Dan Martin Cycling – Road Race 13th Place

Seamus Power Men’s Golf Joint 15th Place

Sanita Puspure Rowing – W1X 13th Place

Saskia Tidey & Andrea Brewster Sailing – 49er FX 12th Place

Shane Ryan 100m Backstroke 16th Place

David Oliver Joyce Boxing – 60kg Last 16


Page 53

Top 20 Event Result Brendan Boyce 50km Race Walks 19th Place

Mark English 800m 17th Place

Ciara Mageean 1500m 17th Place

Sara Treacy 3000m Steeplechase 17th Place

Fionnuala McCormack Marathon 20th Place

Judy Reynolds Dressage 18th Place

Nicholas Quinn 200m Breaststroke 19th Place

Paralympic Games

Team Ireland Paralympic Performance

Top 10 Top 20

Rio 2016 11 22

London 2012 16 27

Beijing 2008 5 18

Athens 2004 4 2

Medals Event Result

Jason Smyth 100m T13 Gold

Michael McKillop 1500m T37 Gold

Eoghan Clifford Cycling – Time Trial C3 Gold

Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – 1km Time Trial B Gold

Orla Barry Discus F57 Silver

Niamh McCarthy Discus F41 Silver

Colin Lynch Time Trial C2 Silver

Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – Road Race B Silver

Noelle Lenihan Discus F38 Bronze

Eoghan Clifford Cycling -– Individual Pursuit C3 Bronze

Ellen Keane 100m Backstroke SB8 Bronze

Top 8 Event Result

Greta Streimikyte 1500m T13 4th Place

Eoghan Clifford Cycling – Road Race C1-2-3 5th Place

Colin Lynch Cycling – Track C2 3000m

Individual Pursuit

5th Place

Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – Track B 3000m

Individual Pursuit

5th Place

Nicole Turner 50m Butterfly S6 5th Place

Rena McCarron Rooney Table Tennis – Singles Classes 1-2 Joint 5th – Qtr Finals

Deirdre Mongan Shot Put F53 6th Place*

Patrick O’Leary Canoeing KL3 6th Place*

Damien Vereker & Sean Hahessy Cycling – Road Time Trial B 6th Place


Page 54

Top 8 Event Result

James Scully 200m Freestyle S5 6th Place

Katie-George Dunleavy & Eve McCrystal Cycling – Track B 1000m Time

Trial

7th Place

James Scully 100m Freestyle S5 7th Place

Nicole Turner 50m Freestyle S6 7th Place

Nicole Turner 100m Breaststroke SB6 7th Place

Nicole Turner 200m Individual Medley SM6 7th Place

Orla Comerford 100m T13 8th Place

Damien Vereker & Sean Hahessy Cycling – Track B 100m Time Trial 8th Place

Nicole Turner 400m Freestyle S6 8th Place

Damien Vereker & Sean Hahessy Cycling – Track B 4000m

Individual Pursuit

8th Place

Ellen Keane 100m Backstroke S9 8th Place

Ellen Keane 100m Butterfly 8th Place

Catherine Walsh & Francine Meehan Para-Triathlon 8th Place*

*Signifies where there was a Top 8 performance in an event with less than 12 competitors


Page 55

Appendix 3 - Breakdown of high performance

expenditure 2006-2015

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

International Carding

2.12 2.28 2.70 2.50 2.85 2.32 2.61 1.62 1.56 1.55

Paralympic Council of Ireland

0.21 0.63 0.51 0.29 0.25 0.40 0.30 0.31 0.50 0.33

Olympic Council of Ireland

0.35 0.53 0.52 0.36 0.35 0.42 0.46 0.40 0.45 0.35

Team Golf Ireland 0.29 0.26 0.22 0.26 0.22 0.21 0.18 0.16 0.17 0.20

Morton Stadium 0.13 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15

High Performance Grants

4.54 6.57 5.96 6.07 5.65 6.48 6.43 6.59 7.50 6.56

50 Metre Pool 0.30 0.32 0.33 0.33 0.32 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30

Institute of Sport and related programmes

0.58 1.04 0.97 0.70 0.84 1.07 1.24 1.09 1.38 1.40

Grants for Gaelic Players*

3.50 1.05 1.05 0.99

0.90 0.90 0.90

Total 8.52 11.75 14.84 11.71 11.68 12.34 11.67 11.52 12.91 11.74

*There are differing definitions of High Performance, and grants for Gaelic Players is included in the definition used by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport


Page 56

Appendix 4 - Athletes and teams funded through

Sport Ireland’s International Carding Scheme

2016

NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total

Athletics Ireland Robert Heffernan Podium €40,000

Athletics Ireland Fionnuala McCormack World Class €20,000

Athletics Ireland Ciaran O’Lionaird World Class €20,000

Athletics Ireland Mark English World Class €20,000

Athletics Ireland Paul Robinson World Class €20,000

Athletics Ireland Thomas Barr World Class €20,000

Athletics Ireland Mens 4x4 Relay World Class €20,000

Athletics Ireland Brian Gregan International €12,000

Athletics Ireland Brendan Boyce International €12,000

Athletics Ireland Alex Wright International €12,000

Athletics Ireland Ciara Everard International €12,000

Athletics Ireland Ciara Mageean International €12,000 €220,000

Badminton Ireland Chloe Magee World Class €20,000

Badminton Ireland Sam Magee World Class €20,000

Badminton Ireland Josh Magee World Class €20,000

Badminton Ireland Scott Evans International €12,000 €72,000

IABA Brendan Irvine Podium €40,000

IABA Katie Taylor Podium €40,000

IABA Joe Ward Podium €40,000

IABA Paddy Barnes Podium €40,000

IABA Michael O’Reilly Podium €40,000

IABA Michael Conlon Podium €40,000

IABA Steven Donnelly World Class €20,000

IABA Dean Walsh World Class €20,000

IABA Sean McComb World Class €20,000

IABA David Oliver Joyce World Class €20,000

IABA Dean Gardiner International €12,000

IABA Darren O’Neill International €12,000

IABA Adam Nolan International €12,000

IABA Ceire Smith International €12,000 €368,000

Irish Canoe Union Patrick O’Leary (para

canoe)

World Class €20,000

Irish Canoe Union Tom Brennan International €12,000

Irish Canoe Union Liam Jegou International €12,000


Page 57

NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total Irish Canoe Union Jenny Egan International €12,000

Irish Canoe Union Olympic Qualification

Programme Funding

€15,000 €71,000

Irish Clay Pigeon

Shooting

Association

Derek Burnett International €12,000 €12,000

Cycling Ireland Eoghan Clifford (para

cycling)

Podium €40,000

Cycling Ireland Katie George

Dunleavy (para

cycling)

Podium €40,000

Cycling Ireland Women’s Track

Programme


Cycling Ireland Colin Lynch (para

cycling)


Cycling Ireland Eoin Mullen World Class €20,000

Cycling Ireland Peter Ryan (para

cycling)

International €12,000

Cycling Ireland Felix English International €12,000 €218,000

Irish Judo

Association

Lisa Kearney World Class €20,000 €20,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Jason Smyth Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Michael McKillop Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Orla Barry Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Niamh McCarthy Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Deirdre Mongan Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Noelle Lenihan Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

John McCarthy International €12,000

Paralympics

Athletics Ireland

Lorraine Regan International €12,000

Paralympics

Swimming Ireland

Ellen Keane Podium €40,000

Paralympics

Swimming Ireland

James Scully International €12,000


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NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total Paralympics

Swimming Ireland

Nicole Turner International €12,000

Paralympics

Swimming Ireland

Ailbhe Kelly International €12,000

Paralympic

Equestrian

Helen Kearney International €12,000 €352,000

Pentathlon Ireland Arthur Lanigan-

O’Keeffe

Podium €40,000

Pentathlon Ireland Natalya Coyle World Class €20,000 €60,000

Rowing Ireland Sinead Lynch World Class €20,000

Rowing Ireland Claire Lambe World Class €20,000

Rowing Ireland Gary O’Donovan International €12,000

Rowing Ireland Paul O’Donovan International €12,000

Rowing Ireland Sanita Puspure International €12,000

Rowing Ireland Mark O’Donovan International €6,000

Rowing Ireland Shane O’Driscoll International €6,000

Rowing Ireland Denise Walsh International €6,000

Rowing Ireland €24,000 €118,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Annalise Murphy World Class €20,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Ryan Seaton World Class €20,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Matthew McGovern World Class €20,000

Irish Sailing

Association

James Espey International €12,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Andrea Brewster International €12,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Saskia Tidey International €12,000

Irish Sailing

Association

John Twomey International €12,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Ian Costelloe International €12,000

Irish Sailing

Association

Austin O’Carroll International €12,000 €132,000

Swim Ireland Fiona Doyle World Class €20,000

Swim Ireland Daniel Sweeney International €12,000

Swim Ireland Nicholas Quinn International €6,000

Swim Ireland Christopher Bryan International €6,000

Swim Ireland Shane Ryan International €6,000

Swim Ireland Diving Programme €15,000 €65,000


Page 59

NGB Applicant Category Award 2016 Total Para Table Tennis Rena McCarron

Rooney

World Class €20,000 €20,000

Triathlon Ireland Aileen Reid World Class €20,000

Triathlon Ireland Bryan Keane International €12,000

Triathlon Ireland Ben Shaw International €12,000

Triathlon Ireland Para Triathlon Rio

Programme

€20,000 €64,000

Overall Total 2016 €1.792m


Page 60

Appendix 5 - Allocations by the Sports Capital

Programme 2014-2015 by sport

Sport Sum of Amount Allocated (Base)

Gaelic Games* €32,114,921

Multi-Sport €20,575,676

Soccer €12,366,457

Rugby €5,985,606

Tennis €3,384,635

Boxing €2,126,380

Rowing €1,641,350

Sailing €1,493,412

Athletics €1,411,733

Swimming €1,319,552

Gymnastics €1,024,165

Hockey €840,044

Golf €540,601

Diving/Snorkelling €528,935

Canoeing/Kayaking €456,169

Cricket €445,195

Wheelchair Sport €341,998

Badminton €303,896

Pitch and Putt €278,097

Triathlon €269,735

Bowls €235,714

Equestrian Sports €230,100

Cycling €225,436

Basketball €211,096

Mountaineering €205,280

Special Olympics €189,905

Martial Arts €182,338

Community Games €127,000

Archery €124,339

Squash €120,000

Angling/Fishing €111,250

Weightlifting €84,806

Volleyball €62,000

Table Tennis €56,800

Shooting Sports €52,000

*Gaelic Games includes Gaelic football (men’s and ladies’), hurling, handball and camogie


Page 61

Sport Sum of Amount Allocated (Base)

American Football €47,808

Orienteering €44,000

Motorcycling €43,101

Water-skiing & Wakeboarding €40,000

Billiards & Snooker €28,000

Wrestling €22,000

Motor Sport €20,000

Olympic Handball €20,000

Tug of War €17,252

Taekwondo €16,408

Clay Pigeon Shooting €14,000

Racquetball €12,000

Fencing €8,799

Surfing €7,000

Modern Pentathlon €5,391

Rock Climbing €4,050

Judo €4,000

Tenpin Bowling €3,000

Skateboarding €2,000

Total €90,025,430


Page 62

Appendix 6 - Usage figures for National Sports

Campus Facilities

Facility Usage

National Aquatic Centre Visitor numbers rose from 565,085 in 2007 to 991,554 in

2015

National Horse Sport Arena 209 bookings/events in 2015

National Modern Pentathlon Centre In use 5 days a week, resulting in approximately 250

sessions per year

National Diving Training Centre Used by 275 members of the Diving Academy & Club and

350 members of the Gymnastics Academy weekly. Also

used by the Irish Diving Squad for daily training

throughout the year

High Performance Training Centre

- strength and conditioning area - mixed training zone - rehab/medical area - 4-lane 130 metre track - dedicated boxing area

Almost 700 athletes supported in the High Performance

Training Centre (January to September 2016) for training,

testing and services including medicine, performance

analysis, physiology and strength and conditioning

FAI National Training Centre Over 330 events (September 2015 to August 2016), from

Men’s and Women’s squads from all age categories

including the Senior Teams, and the Irish Paralympic Team

GAA National Games Development

Centre

Opened in April 2016

Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitch facility Public usage figures for the Multi-Sport Synthetic Pitch

facility rose from 73,948 in 2014 to 93,236 in 2015

Two large multi-sport turf pitches

accommodating Gaelic games, football

and rugby

The multi-sport turf pitches, opened in 2016, have been

used by High Performance athletes including the Irish

American Football Association and the Dublin Senior

Football Team


Page 63

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