The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is a key theme. Inclusion and diversity is an absolute priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport.
Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gap between persons with either a long-term illness or a disability and those without such illness or disability. The Irish Sports Monitor survey reports that this participation gap stands at 22% as of 2024. It is clear that more work needs to be done to make this participation gap a thing of the past.
Increased funding of €1million was allocated in Budget 2025 to establish a new and dedicated Disability in Sport funding stream. Sport Ireland appointed a Disability in Sport Lead in February 2025 who is now collaborating with National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and other funded organisations to develop programmes to promote accessibility and participation for individuals with disabilities.
To highlight this progress, the first-ever Sport Ireland Disability in Sport Week 2025 took place in December 2025. The theme was “Celebrating Ability” / “Ag Ceiliúradh Cumas” and Sport Ireland worked with a wide range of stakeholders to promote progress made under the five pillars of its Disability Inclusion in Sport Policy, namely Leadership, Capacity, Communication, Change and Access.
Additionally, Sport Ireland allocates €1.14 million at local level to fund a national network of Sports Inclusion Disability Officers aligned to the 29 LSPs in the country. Sport Ireland also allocates nearly €2.4 million in support of disability sport focused NGBs to continue their work in this area.
The Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) is the primary means of providing Government funding funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. All projects in receipt of CSFF allocations must be accessible to people with disabilities and capital projects must conform to the seven principles of universal design and all gym equipment funded must be accessible to people with disabilities.
