Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A passion for sport is in the blood of every Irish person. We are born with it and take it with us wherever we go. Our native hurling is one of the oldest and greatest field sports in the world. Our love of football has seen it become the number one participation sport in the country. We left an indelible mark at the Olympics, including the Special Olympics, where our athletes poured their hearts and souls into competing. Our ladies’ team blazed a mighty trail at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and our rugby heroes brought the country to a standstill. The country is currently awash with local team colours as county finals at all levels take place. Whether we are cheering for horse racing, applauding for golf or yelling on a sideline, there is nothing like sport to get Irish hearts pounding.

Our Irish sportsmen and women give us plenty of reasons to cheer. We are justifiably proud of our country’s sporting reputation, whether it be local, national, or international. None of this happens by accident. It takes years to reach the standard our top athletes and teams have attained. They all started out on the bottom rung of the ladder, filled with determination to climb and succeed. They have proved beyond doubt that success is possible and the door to achievement is open if they get the support they need. Key to this support is investment in the provision of proper facilities from the bottom up. Funding for sport at any level and for any purpose is always money well spent. It is not a once-off spend but an investment that can yield a myriad of returns. Without the capital support for sports facilities, particularly at grassroots level, Ireland would struggle to maintain its hard-fought place on the international stage. We cannot expect to build sporting success if we do not provide the facilities and means to nurture our existing and future talent.

The overall budget for sport in 2024 stands at €183 million, which includes a welcome €2 million in additional funding for women’s sport. Funding is always welcome. Investment and emphasis on sport gives a positive return and a yield for the country. Spending on sport gives a huge boost to local economies in a wide range of ways, which in turn boosts the Exchequer. Among the greatest paybacks from investing in sport are the health benefits. Indirectly, funding for sports facilities which encourage people to become fitter and more active helps and encourages participation in activities which lead to better long-term physical and mental health. Participation in sport also yields benefits in education that can lay positive foundations for children throughout their lives. Sport nurtures a sense of discipline and fosters teamwork and togetherness. It provides the physical and mental stimulation that is crucial to young children and teenagers. Sports boost local economies. Even a local club match will generate spending in small businesses. Restaurants, shops, pubs and garages see an increase in spending when a sporting event is held locally. On a much larger scale, national sporting events promote our country in ways that advertising could never achieve.

The spin off from hosting any major sporting event is incalculable. Yet, without investment in sports facilities at the grassroots, we risk losing all those potential benefits. If we fail to make it possible for local clubs to thrive and develop and invest in and improve facilities, our aspiring sports heroes of the future will walk away. Unlike times past, our young people now have a range of options when it comes to choosing activities. If we fail to invest sufficiently in sports facilities we risk losing future generations of Irish sporting heroes. As the Minister of State is aware, I have already advanced and promoted several applications for sports capital grants from a range of clubs and voluntary organisations across Tipperary and my new found friends in Kilkenny. I hope the Minister of State and his officials will give favourable consideration to these worthy applications.

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