THE Daíl was given a brief outline of two key funding supports totalling some €24 million, operated by Sport Ireland, for athletes involved in international competition.

Cavan-Monaghan TD Pauline Tully (SF) tabled a question asking what support is available to athletes representing Ireland at international competitions with their travel and accommodation expenses.

In reply, the Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Meath East TD Thomas Byrne (FF), stated: “Sport Ireland operates two key athlete funding supports, an International Carding Scheme for individual athletes and High Performance Programme funding to relevant National Governing Bodies of sport.

“The Sport Ireland International Carding Scheme has been in operation since 1999. The Scheme provides direct funding to individual athletes to support their training and competition costs. It is a criteria-based scheme with the top Irish athletes across Olympic and Paralympic sports receiving funding. In 2022, Sport Ireland invested €3.8 million under the International Carding Scheme.

“High Performance Programme Funding is also provided by Sport Ireland to National Governing Bodies to support the delivery of their performance programmes. This funding supports a range of activities including training camps and competitions, pathway development, performance services and performance team salaries. These programmes are central to supporting Irish athletes and teams in reaching finals and achieving medals at European and World Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over €20 million has been invested in 2022.

“These funding supports, matched with the continued maturity of Ireland’s high performance system, ensure that the majority of the costs incurred (all of the costs in most cases) by athletes representing Ireland are covered by the athlete’s respective National Governing Body,” concluded Minister Byrne.