Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
675. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps which are being taken to ensure that access to elite development pathways in Irish sport is based on ability and performance rather than a family’s capacity to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9763/26]
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.
For details of the funding streams in place I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
