Funding boost for sports clubs during energy crisis

A new €35 million fund has been established to help Irish sports clubs with rising energy costs this winter.

Details of the package will be officially unveiled by the Government today.

The fund, which was secured by Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers, has been agreed to help clubs with the practicalities of dealing with the energy crisis, such as the costs of keeping floodlights on, keeping halls heated over winter and sustaining other facilities.

The package will offer additional fuel and energy supports to clubs who are under pressure in a separate package for sports clubs and swimming pools over the coming months to help onset the increasing costs of the energy crisis.

The €35 million fund is part of a wider €60 million package which was announced by Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath during yesterday's Budget and will be unveiled following prolonged engagement between Minister Chambers and Minister McGrath.

The overall package will also support not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Arts, Gaeltacht and the Community sectors.

But sport groups will receive the largest portion of funding.

Whilst an increase of just €8m was awarded to Irish sport in yesterday’s Budget 2023 announcement, news of the €35 million package from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media brings a total package of €43m for sport in this budget.

This will help fund high performance athletes in the build-up to the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games, as well as the creation of a new coaching fund and the delivery of measures contained in the Government’s Sports Action Plan.