Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which he justifies the practice of charging families for participation in state-supported Olympic development pathways, particularly where athletes have met high-performance selection standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9760/26]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. It is responsible for providing funding to elite development and high performance pathways.
The National Governing Bodies are responsible for the development of their own sports at all levels, including encouraging and facilitating participation opportunities and providing the appropriate performance pathways and structures for Irish athletes seeking to reach their full potential.
€27 million was invested in high performance sport in 2025, increasing to €28.5 million in Budget 2026, encompassing coaching both through grants by Sport Ireland to National Governing Bodies and through the Sport Ireland Institute.
This is in line with the Government’s target of delivering €30 million in funding per annum for high performance sport by 2027, as set out in the National Sports policy 2018-2027.
This approach reflects Sport Ireland’s High Performance Strategy 2021-2032, which provides the overarching policy framework for the development of the high-performance system for the next two Olympiads in Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
In 2025, Sport Ireland invested €4.4 million under the International Carding Scheme and the Player Funding Scheme (Men’s and Women's Senior teams). This funding supported 129 individual athletes and 11 relays/pool funding. Sport Ireland also provided €350,000 in direct athlete support to Golf Ireland through the Golf Ireland Professional Scheme.
For detail of the funding in place I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to this matter.
I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
