February 10 - Irish sport today discovered that its funding for 2010 has been cut by nearly €1 million (£881,000) with Horse Sport Ireland being among the biggest losers.


The 2010 funding to 59 national governing bodies (NGBs) totals €11.8 million (£10.3 million), compared to last year’s €12.7 (£11.1 million) with nearly everyone taking a hit due to the economic circumstances.

The grants made available to 27 bodies under the Women in Sport programme are also down from €1.5 million (£1.3 million) to €1.3 million (£1.1 million).

The biggest drop, however, is reserved for Special Olympics Ireland which is down over €250,000 (£220,000) from €2.5 million (£2.2 million) to €2.3 million (£2 million).

It does, however, retain the largest allocation by some distance ahead of the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI).

The AAI was given €1.1 million (£969,000) in total last year and has been granted €1 million (£881,000) today.

Horse Sport Ireland’s allocation drops nearly €100,000 (£88,000) to €890,295 (£784,195).

The Shooting Sports Association of Ireland receives nothing, having benefitted to the tune of €35,450 (£31,225) last year, though the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association receives €35,000 (£31,000) after getting nothing in 2009.

Ireland's Minister for Sport Martin Cullen said the allocations were "a further commitment to, and acknowledgment of, the key role of the sports’ governing bodies."

He said: "By minimising the cut in the Irish Sports Council’s budget for 2010, supported by my Government colleagues, I sought to protect the funding of the Council’s existing initiatives including today’s announcement of grants to the National Governing Bodies of Sport and to the Women in Sport programme.

"I believe we must maintain this investment to enable the Sports Council to carry out its important programmes, in particular the essential work of the National Governing Bodies of Sport."

Ossie Kilkenny, the chairman of the ISC, said: "The Council is delighted to be in a position to announce substantial grants in the governing bodies in 2010.

"The sports bodies have benefitted from consistent investment in recent years, reflected in stronger organisations delivering essential sports programmes to the community. It is important that the investment is maintained and progress in sports development sustained into the long term”.