Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

515. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if it is currently the intention of his Department to maintain current levels of core funding for sporting NGBs and LSPs for the duration of this Government; if so, if he would concede that this represents a funding reduction in real terms when inflation, the rising cost of doing business and other new costs are factored in; if he will clarify whether it will be his intention to in fact seek increased current funding for NGBs and LSPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25282/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Government investment in sport is essential to increasing participation levels in all sports, across all sectors of society. When the National Sports Policy was published in 2018, it set a commitment to double investment in sport to more than €220 million by 2027. The funding allocation for sport this year will be over €230 million. This means that, two years ahead of schedule, state funding for sport has more than doubled compared to 2018 levels.

In 2018, the total annual core funding for National Governing Bodies for sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) stood at €16.9 million. In 2025, that figure will be over €30 million. This is a substantial increase in funding. In particular, an extra €1.3 million in core funding was allocated under Budget 2025 to the NGBs and LSPs compared to 2024.

Funding for sport in 2026 will be considered by Government in the context of the annual budgetary process and I can assure the Deputy of my ongoing commitment to securing the necessary supports to continue the trajectory of increased funding for NGBs and LSPs.