Sport Ireland has announced funding of €281,374 for sports in Louth, as part of a €40 million investment in National Governing Bodies for Sport (NGBs), High Performance athlete support, and the network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) for 2021.
This includes funding of €9.5 million for the network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships across Ireland, representing an increase of 15% on 2020 funding enabling Sport Ireland to support a locally led, safe return to sport and to further build the capacity of LSPs across Ireland.
The Green Party Rep for Drogheda Rural, Anthony Murphy said: “Investment in Sport is vital especially given the impact of the lockdown.
“This funding will assist sporting bodies to get going again as we ease out of the lockdown. Sport is vital for the health and vibrance of our communities, I think the lockdown has highlighted this more than ever before”
This funding will work alongside the Covid-19 Grant Scheme announced in December 2020. Under Covid-19 restrictions, many sports at the local and national level have faced unprecedented financial and administrative challenges. These funding pathways will provide stability and certainty across the breadth of sporting organisations throughout 2021.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, said:
“The past year has shown us yet again the important role that sport and physical activity plays in our lives and the vital contribution it makes to our physical and mental wellbeing.
“I am delighted to announce today’s funding to the sports sector to further assist the work of National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships to encourage people to be more active and to support their ongoing development.
“In Budget 2021, the Government committed to support the sector and we are engaging closely with the sector to ensure their needs are met and that sport will emerge from the Covid-19 crisis in a strong position.”
