I am very supportive of the process of integration between the Gaelic Games organisations. This process reflects much of what is already happening at club level and will further ensure parity of treatment for all players within the Gaelic Games family, which is the subject of the question. I understand that good progress is being made on the integration process under the leadership of Mary McAleese and the Steering Group on Integration which was formed in 2022. The stated target for full integration is 2027 and I will continue to follow progress in this regard with great interest.
The Irish Sports Monitor report for 2023 noted that the gender gradient in sports participation more generally had narrowed to 2.9%, dropping below 3% for the first time. Increasing female participation in sport is a cornerstone of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and the Sports Action Plan 2024-2027. The Ladies Gaelic Football Association is the largest female focused sport organisation in Ireland with over 200,000 members and 1,000 clubs across Ireland and the United Kingdom.
At present, each of the Gaelic Games’ bodies are recognised as separate entities by Sport Ireland and have all traditionally been funded individually. In line with the National Sports Policy Action Plan, a common funding framework has been developed to guide the allocation of State funding for Gaelic Games across all codes. As such, Women in Sport investment, Dormant Accounts Fund investment and Inter-County Gaelic Games investment supports the wider Gaelic Games Family that encompasses the Camogie Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Gaelic Athletic Association and GAA Handball Ireland. For administrative purposes, these allocations are paid to the GAA directly by Sport Ireland, with the investment used to support all Gaelic Games bodies.
Core funding, which is allocated to National Governing Bodies to support staff and workforce development, organisational governance, compliance and administration and to support the implementation of strategic and operational plans, is currently allocated to the LGFA, Camogie Association, GAA and GAA Handball, individually.
Since 2005, significant "Women in Sport" investment has been allocated by Sport Ireland to National Governing Bodies to support a wide range of actions designed to increase female involvement in sport at every level. Following a comprehensive review, the Sport Ireland Policy on Women in Sport, was updated and published in November 2023.The updated policy includes a set of priority areas designed to accelerate gender equality across Irish sport.
The policy expresses Sport Ireland’s commitment to women in sport. It builds on the significant work which has already been undertaken to date and, in recognising the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of women through their involvement in sport, it provides a blueprint for Sport Ireland’s future work. Aligned with the Government’s National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027, it forms a key element of Sport Ireland’s statement of strategy.
Sport Ireland investment into the LGFA between 2021-2025 is set out below in tabular form and it should be noted that the bulk of 2026 allocations are yet to be made.
|
Ladies Gaelic Football Association
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
|
Core Investment
|
€485,000
|
€500,000
|
€525,000
|
€570,000
|
€595,000
|
|
Core Additional Allocation
|
€-
|
€-
|
€40,000
|
€-
|
€-
|
|
Covid 19 Grant
|
*€6,000,000
|
€146,000
|
€-
|
€-
|
€-
|
|
Women in Sport
|
€49,000
|
€49,000
|
*€200,000
|
€100,000
|
€100,000
|
|
Dormant Accounts Fund
|
€78,160
|
*€700,000
|
*€625,000
|
*€414,500
|
*€308,500
|
|
Research
|
€15,000
|
€-
|
€15,000
|
€18,000
|
€18,000
|
|
Evaluation
|
€-
|
€-
|
€15,000
|
€-
|
€16,000
|
|
Healthy Ireland
|
€8,958
|
€7,128
|
€-
|
€-
|
€-
|
|
Digital Catalyst Fund
|
€-
|
€-
|
€-
|
€-
|
€15,000
|
|
Special Projects and Programmes
|
€10,000
|
€-
|
€-
|
€-
|
€-
|
*In line with the National Sports Policy Action Plan goal to “Develop a common funding framework to guide the allocation of State funding for Gaelic Games across all codes”, the majority of investment supports the wider Gaelic Games Family of The Camogie Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Gaelic Athletic Association and GAA Handball Ireland as opposed to being directed to the individual NGBs. For administrative purposes, these Gaelic Games allocations are paid to the GAA directly, with the investment used to support all Gaelic Games bodies.
