Dr. Una May:

I thank the committee for the invitation to attend the meeting today to discuss the 2022 financial statements for Sport Ireland and to share information on our role in the governance and oversight of funding to the FAI. The Cathaoirleach has already introduced my colleagues. Mr. Califf played a significant role in Covid-19 funding. To assist the discussion today, and in line with the letter of invitation, we submitted some briefing material to the committee previously. I thank the committee for the opportunity to make this opening statement today.

Sport Ireland is the statutory authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland. Established under the Sport Ireland Act 2015, we are tasked with increasing participation in sport, supporting Ireland's high-performance athletes, operating Ireland's anti-doping programme, delivering coaching and training and developing the Sport Ireland campus. Highlights from 2023 include the launch of our new strategic plan and our management of the investment of €40 million in national governing bodies and €16 million in local sports partnerships to promote the development of sport. Across the sports sector over the past year, we have seen positive results, with participation levels rebounding to surpass pre-pandemic levels. We have now reached 47%; before the pandemic, this was 46%. We have seen significant international success, with 99 medals won across high-performance sporting events and we have had a record level of investment in the high-performance system. We have also seen compliance with the governance code for sport increasing by 3% to 95% and women now make up an average of 44% of board members across sports governing bodies in Ireland.

In addition to Sport Ireland's 2022 financial statements, we have received a clean audit from the Comptroller and Auditor General and we have also shared details on Sport Ireland's administered funding to the FAI within our briefing document. In relation to our oversight of funding allocated to the FAI, it has been well documented that Sport Ireland was tasked by the Government with having an oversight and monitoring role in relation to the MOU agreed between the Government and the FAI in 2020. Members will be aware there were issues around the embedding of MOU condition no. 35, a condition relating to the CEO and remuneration, which were uncovered via a Sport Ireland-commissioned audit. Following the audit, the FAI took the required corrective actions and this issue was subsequently resolved. A report on the overall implementation of the reforms set out under the MOU has been published by the Minister and the Minister of State. In summary, more than 90% of the required items have been completed and some very significant and tangible reforms have been delivered by the FAI.

While the journey of reform and change of the FAI since 2020 was not without its challenges and setbacks, the organisation has demonstrated that solid progress has been made on its transition to a better governance structure and improved practices. This transition will require ongoing work, resourcing and nurturing to ensure that good governance is at the heart of how the FAI operates and does its business into 2024 and beyond. Sport Ireland is committed to working with and supporting the FAI in the continuation of its journey of reform.

During 2020 and 2021, Covid-19 restrictions led to large-scale decreases in sporting activities across the country. Every aspect of life was profoundly impacted and this was certainly the case when it came to sport, the one thing that brought people together when we were not allowed to come together. The Government provided targeted Covid-19 resilience and recovery funds, and this allocation was administered by Sport Ireland. This unprecedented investment addressed the immediate financial and operational needs of the sector. It was for the purpose of offsetting financial losses and additional costs that arose because of the impact of Covid-19 and to ensure no viable sports organisation would become insolvent. The funding thereby contributed to the public health recovery post pandemic.

The Covid-19 grants schemes were like no other Sport Ireland investment programmes in terms of their context, size, scale, condensed timelines and support for grassroots clubs and community groups. Sport Ireland put an unprecedented post-allocation monitoring and compliance programme in place, which included a combination of executive reporting, as well as external and internal audit reviews. In 2020, a series of Covid-19-specific audits were undertaken by KOSI, representing 90% of that year’s funding. All received high ratings of assurance that the funds were spent in accordance with the conditions as set out. We are satisfied that the scheme delivered on its objectives and was well managed by the sports sector.

I thank the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and our colleagues in the Department, for their ongoing support. I welcome this discussion with the committee and I will be happy to answer any questions.