Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The thing that stood out here was the fact that €1.2 million was being allocated to Sport Ireland, of which €750,000 was going to the Irish Open golf, in comparison to €100,000 going to Paralympics Ireland and €150,000 for the entire Women in Sport programme. Golf is a very wealthy sport so why does it need such a subsidy? The Irish Open was sponsored by Dubai Duty Free last year. Is that also the case this year? Prize money for golfers is stratospheric so why does the taxpayer have to fund Irish Open golf to the tune of €750,000 while the Women in Sport programme gets €150,000, with Paralympics Ireland getting even less? Well-funded sports in which well-heeled people take part seem to enjoy quite a lot of subsidies and grants. I do not see how the Irish Open could need a handout from the public purse.