Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Major Sports Events have the potential to deliver a range of benefits including increased participation in sport and physical activity, increased trade and tourism activity, and providing a boost to national and community pride and wellbeing. Such events often require Government support and input to win hosting bids and to support delivery. This can involve supports such as funding, commercial protections, transport and security provisions.

Whether my Department, or the wider Government, supports the hosting of a major sports event in Ireland depends on a wide range of factors including the projected cost to Government, the economic benefits accruing to the State and the event’s capacity to contribute to wider policy objectives such as increasing physical activity and participation in sport and aligning with national environmental and sustainability policies.

I have been approached by Motorsport Ireland in relation to support for the hosting of rounds of the World Rally Championship in the years 2025 to 2027. That proposal is being examined and assessed by officials and I will be responding to Motorsport Ireland in the coming weeks.