Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
181. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the funding allocated this year for the Dublin city and Fingal LSPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16809/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland's network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) play a crucial role in implementing the National Sports Policy (NSP) and increasing participation levels in sport and physical activity particularly in underrepresented groups. The LSPs deliver targeted programmes to a range of cohorts including older adults, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and those living in disadvantaged communities.
Sport Ireland announced a record €33.36 million in core funding for National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other funded sports bodies on 21 January 2026. Of this total, the LSP network received €12.66 million which represents an increase of 5.9% compared to 2025.
Core funding is allocated to fund six nationally designated roles which are uniform across the LSP network. The salaries for these roles are standardised nationally and do not vary according to the population size of the community served by the LSP.
Certain LSPs receive additional core funding where there are independently governed, as they must cover office and organisational overheads themselves. Both Dublin City and Fingal LSP are part of a Local Authority structure so do not receive funding in this regard.
The following is a breakdown of the funding allocated this year to Dublin City and Fingal LSPs:
|
LSP |
Core Funding |
Women in Sport Funding |
Total Funding |
|
Dublin City |
€436,474 |
€18,000 |
€454,474 |
|
Fingal |
€405,563 |
€30,000 |
€435,563 |
This funding for LSPs is also supplemented by additional investment from other funding streams, including Dormant Account Funding and the European Social Fund Programme.
Additionally, Sport Ireland allocates €1.2 million at local level to fund a national network of Sports Inclusion Disability Officers with one assigned to each of the 29 LSPs.
