Ms Michelle Carpenter:

Our high-performance budget is €600,000 per year. In New Zealand, which is a country of the same size, the budget is equivalent to €3 million. Out of the €600,000, we also run the National Rowing Centre. Using some other core money, we run programmes like the Get Going, Get Rowing programme and support clubs. Funding the National Rowing Centre costs us €100,000 out of that pot of money. The athletes here will testify as to how it can be a cold place in the winter, as we are trying to save the pennies. Much of our budget goes on camps, which are important. Ireland is an island on the west coast of Europe, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Since mileage is key with rowing, it is important that we get to sunnier climates. It is similar to what is done with cycling in Majorca. Our camps can take up a sixth of the budget in the blink of an eye.