Sporting bodies seeking budget boost from government

The Federation of Irish Sport, the representative body of the national governing bodies and local sports partnerships, has this morning released details of its pre-budget submission.

The federation has five key government requests ahead of next week's budget, ranging from an increase in core funding, to taxation and insurance reforms, as well as tax reallocations to tackle gambling addiction and obesity.

Core funding for sport's 58 national governing bodies nationwide was €15m last year, an increase of €1.5m. The federation wants to see that upward trend in funding continue.

The problems of gambling and obesity are two areas in particular where the federation is seeking immediate government action.

It wants 2.25% of betting duty used to support those affected by gambling addiction, with 4.5% of the sugar tax take used to fund anti-obesity education campaigns.

The federation says that a multi-annual system of core funding for sport would allow sports bodies the opportunity to plan ahead, while it is also asking government to look closely at insurance reform in order to reduce liability premiums to affordable levels.

The federation says 2018 research valued sport as being worth €3.7bn to the Irish economy.