Minister announces €1.68m funding boost for Sport Ireland
Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has allocated over €1.68 million to Sport Ireland to enhance physical activity programmes nationwide. The funding, part of the Healthy Ireland initiative, supports various sports and health projects across the country.
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, has announced a funding package exceeding €1.68 million to Sport Ireland aimed at promoting physical activity across Ireland. This investment is channelled through the Healthy Ireland Fund, which is the government’s national framework dedicated to improving health and wellbeing.
The allocation supports a wide range of national programmes, including Get Ireland Walking, Running, and Cycling, Special Olympics Ireland, GAA Gambling Awareness, Student Sport Ireland, as well as swimming, hockey, and table tennis initiatives. Additional funding backs the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Age and Opportunity, ensuring inclusive participation across all age groups and abilities.
The funding breakdown comprises €743,500 for core national programmes, €400,000 specifically for the Open Water Swimming Fund, and €537,000 designated for Physical Activity for Health initiatives. Minister Murnane O’Connor emphasised the importance of collaboration with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health on the Physical Activity Pathways in Healthcare Model, which promotes exercise for individuals living with chronic conditions. The initiative aligns with the broader aim to make Ireland the most physically active country in Europe by 2040.
Minister of State Charlie McConalogue highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing sport accessibility, praising the support for the national swimming strategy that ensures equitable opportunities to swim nationwide. Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May welcomed the funding, noting its role in delivering preventative health benefits, managing chronic conditions, and reducing social isolation through increased participation.
Since its inception in 2013, Healthy Ireland has worked closely with partners including the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Sport Ireland, and the HSE to implement the National Physical Activity Plan and its successor framework spanning 2024 to 2040. Oversight of these expenditures will be jointly managed by Sport Ireland, Healthy Ireland, and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.