Gaelic Games bodies to receive €31m of Sport Ireland funding

Gaelic Games authorities are to benefit from a total of nearly €31million in Sport Ireland funding in 2020.

Sport Ireland have confirmed a funding package of €85million across four separate schemes.

The GAA, Ladies Gaelic and the Camogie Association receive a combined €15.795m, with an additional €15million for inter-county championships.

The IRFU receives €18million which will be split between the union, the provinces and club network.

€13million is allocated to the FAI, which includes a ring-fenced amount to support clubs.

Independent FAI Chair Roy Barrett said of the boost, "This resilience funding from Government is a vote of confidence in Irish football as we continue to support the HSE and our frontline workers in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic."

Sport Ireland NGB funding allocations

Elsewhere, twenty national governing bodies (NGBs) - including Cricket Ireland, Golf Ireland and the Irish Athletic Boxing Association - will split €5million of an NGB Resilience Fund.

The third scheme is a Club Resilience Fund which financially supports clubs in need of assistance due to COVID-19. It requires NGBs to either elect to apply for funding directly on behalf of affiliated, or provide an estimated level of support required for their club network and propose to run a Covid-19 Club Support Grant Scheme directly.

The fourth and final scheme is the Restart & Renewal Fund which will provide Local Sports Partnerships (LSP) with small grants of over €1.9million to aide 1,600 clubs.

Sport Ireland Chief Executive John Treacy said, "The initial schemes announced in June were designed to support Organisations with Covid-19 related losses in 2020. However, having engaged with our funded bodies, we understand that the current Level 5 restrictions present additional challenges.

"As such, we are ring-fencing finances to address any immediate needs that may arise in the sector in the coming weeks.

"Sport has shown itself to be incredibly resilient throughout the Covid-19 restrictions having made a critical contribution to Irish life with more people being active than ever before.

"Through exemptions put in place by Government, we have been able to follow high performance and professional athletes and teams, which has provided a welcome lift to the nation.

"We look forward to working with the sector in the challenging weeks and months ahead, and will continue to provide ongoing support.”