SHOWJUMPING Ireland took the opportunity at the joint committee meeting on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dáil Eireann last Wednesday evening, October 1st, to clear up a suggestion it had not paid a High Performance levy due to Horse Sport Ireland.

Speaking on behalf of SJI was Ronan Corrigan, who said that, at a meeting of the same committee in November 2023, ‘there were statements made that ShowJumping Ireland collects a levy on behalf of Horse Sport Ireland for international affairs, and it was not paid’.

“The correction is, since 2010, ShowJumping Ireland has given round figure amounts towards international participation. They have not collected a levy since the times of the EFI. So monies are collected into SJI for the administration of its sport and the support of its activities. From that, its management and finance committees and its board make a decision as to the level of support provided to international affairs.

“That was done for a three-year period, with an agreement in place where books were opened, accounts were prepared, and plans were prepared and that worked very well. At the end of that three-year agreement, no follow on agreement was put in place. It was very ad hoc. In the last number of years, SJI sought to regularise that again, to have a situation where plans would be put forward that you could cost them out properly, and there was a degree of resistance to that. We just could not get agreement that they (costed plans) would be submitted for ShowJumping Ireland and I think some of the others here will concur.

“We did intend to increase the amount of funding to international participation, but conditional on submissions being made, so that we could have a proper budget, a proper structure to return to our members with and justify any increase in funding.

Not in a good place

Senator Paul Daly asked where the relationship was now in terms of high performance funding, given “it’s certainly not a sport where you could afford to have a breakdown in high performance” with Mr Corrigan responding “it’s not in a very good place.”

“We met with two representatives of Sport Ireland, along with representatives from HSI. All high performance affiliates asked for the same thing, input into planning the financial support mechanisms for the high performance squads. Sport Ireland explained the rationale to their funding - core and high performance, we said we’re quite willing to look for funding, but we’re accountable to our members, so we go to an AGM and we get 200 or 300 people who are going to ask us, ‘what was that spent on’?

“And our problem is, we couldn’t get input into it. So we left that meeting with a very clear ask, and Mr (Paul) McDermott (Sport Ireland) saw no real issue with this, providing it wouldn’t cause delays, which was that HSI would put together their programme, their four-year programme, cost it out, so we could see it over the four years, and we did this many years ago. That has not happened. There has been no submission from HSI.

“In fact, they took umbrage at the fact that we asked them and would not do so, and have not done so. So, where we are is SJI, and I can speak for Dressage Ireland as well, are at an absolute standstill in relation to discussions on high performance funding.”

Next to speak was SJI vice-chairman and chairman of the ponies committee, Dessie McFadden: “I suppose one of the main situations here is the lack of trust,” he said. “There is no trust between the affiliates and HSI. The success of the ponies for Ireland has been second to none. We’re the envy of the world. HSI actually give nothing towards that at all. The only thing they do, they pay the entry fees for the European Championships and that’s where a lot of the problem lies.”

Misrepresentations

Asked to respond to the comments made at the meeting, a HSI spokesman said: “HSI is aware of the recent comments regarding high performance funding, and we wish to clarify that several misrepresentations were made by members of affiliates at the Joint Oireachtas Committee hearing, particularly concerning the meeting with Sport Ireland. These statements do not in any way accurately reflect the content of that meeting or the processes governing the allocation of public funding.

“HSI operates in full compliance with Sport Ireland’s funding protocols, ensuring that all financial planning and resource allocation for high performance programmes are conducted transparently and with full accountability. Our processes are designed to support our athletes, while ensuring responsible management of public funds.

“While we respect the right of affiliates to raise concerns, it is essential that any discussion on public funding remains factually accurate. HSI remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of funding mechanisms and to continue supporting the success of our high performance athletes.”