Sport in Ireland is big business, in fact the sports economy outgrew the Irish economy over a decade according to a Sports Ireland report published in 2021.
€3.3bn was spent on sports goods in that time, with the total value of the industry being €3.7bn (1.4% of the total economy).
The CEO of the Federation of Sport for Ireland (IFS) Mary O’Connor outlined the pivotal role it plays in the Irish economy.
“450,000 people a week volunteer for Irish sport,” she said, emphasing the point that this is something that the Exchequer would not be able to repay.
The Federation is the link between the Government and 81 National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs).
It also represents Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs).
With the financial might of the sport industry, the 3.3bn figure accounts for 3.1% of total consumer spending in the Irish economy, O’Connor knows the importance of being a flagbearer for the sector.
“We make sure that the price of sport is heard, and the value of sport is heard”.
A Government commitment to double funding to €220m by the end of 2027 as part of the National Sport Policy has been welcomed by O’Connor, but she has also warned that inflation over the last couple of years has greatly cut into the initially perceived benefits.
That is not the only area that concerns the CEO.
Multi-annual funding is another key issue for the Federation, which would allow organisations to plan over two years.
“What we’ve been asking the government to deliver on is multi-annual funding for sports organisations because at the moment its annual funding so it’s very difficult for (organisations) to plan, to strategise, to retain staff if they’re only getting funding year to year.”
The only sportspeople that do receive funding in this way are the high-performance athletes, which she says has been a great benefit to them.
The former Camogie star also wants to see more facilities for athletes in the country.
O’Connor points to the fact that there is still no permanent ice facility in the country for high-performance athletes, the last being in Dundalk and having closed down in 2010.
She also pointed to the need for more multi-sport facilities.
O’Connor was speaking ahead of the 7th annual Irish Sports Industry Awards, which are being held in the College Green Hotel in Dublin on Tuesday.
These awards recognise those involved in both the sporting and business world, with 10 different categories up for grabs.
She says she is delighted “to see that the Minister for Finance (Michael McGrath) is coming to the ‘Sports Industry awards’, I think that signifies government intent and support for the sector.”
This follows the announcement earlier this month that the government would be committing over €26m in equipment grants to sporting organisations nationwide.
O’Connor says the government’s continued investment in sport provides a healthy return on investment for the finance ministry and the Irish economy.
“We estimate that for every €1 the government invests in Irish sport, they’re getting €1.95 back.”
Photo: CEO of the Federation of Sport for Ireland (IFS) Mary O’Connor