Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Friday, 18 September 2020
Special Committee on Covid-19 Response
Covid-19: Impact on Sport in Ireland
Mr. John Treacy:
I will give the Deputy an idea of some of the challenges. He probably knows that many of the income streams of some clubs have been lost because of local competitions involving an income that did not happen or because of lost revenues in terms of membership. Many clubs are facing such issues, which are starting to affect the winter sports now. I refer to members joining clubs, or clubs joining the national federation, in sports like gymnastics or cycling. That has been a factor in many of the NGBs losing membership fees. That is challenging. We will see that come through in some of the applications we will get. There is also the cost of losing local fundraising. People cannot be as active on the fundraising side at local level. That is one piece, and the loss of commercial sponsorship for local tournaments is another piece. Many clubs and smaller NGBs in the winter sports are facing those challenges coming down the tracks. The funding that is being provided - the €15 million for the clubs or the €10 million for the smaller NGBs - will be pivotal in getting them through such challenges. We are very much aware of what those challenges are. I suppose the longer this goes on, the greater the challenges will be. It will go into 2021. If it goes late into 2021, more resources will be required. That is just a fact of life. I will ask Mr. McDermott to come in.
No comments