MADAM,

I AM writing after reading your report on high performance funding and Horse Sport Ireland with the affiliates.

The piece that caught my attention was that Para Equestrian Ireland are expected to contribute €10,000, which is at least 10 times their annual membership income, on behalf of their 47 members, to the High Performance programme.

Given Horse Sport Ireland is receiving €1,803,000 in government funding through Sport Ireland, I find it incredulous that HSI would seek a €10,000 contribution from Para Equestrian, a registered charity which needs to fundraise to meet the contribution.

At a particular time when Horse Sport Ireland is looking at its social licence, it appears at odds that it should be seeking the scale of contribution (if it even should be looking for any contribution), from Para Equestrian Ireland, as it does not appear consistent with government policy of inclusiveness and accessibility to sport for all.

Horse Sport Ireland has flexibility with regards to how it gathers funds from its affiliates, and I have to question the ethics and integrity of an organisation that appears to have no empathy for the financial position of our para equestrians.

Yours etc,

David O’Brien

Calverstown little

Colbinstown

Co Kildare