Statement by Minister of State Thomas Byrne at the Budget 2024 Debate in Dáil Éireann

Check against delivery

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire.

A Cheann Comhairle agus a Theachtaí,

I welcome the opportunity to address the chamber on the 2024 Budget Estimates in relation to Sport.

The 2024 allocation for Sports and Recreational services amounts to €183.337 million.

Increased government funding is being provided to our sporting bodies to ensure their ongoing recovery, post-pandemic, and to support them in facing the challenges of the day.

The overall 2024 allocation being provided to Sport Ireland, which is tasked by the government with responsibility for the development of sport in Ireland, amounts to €106.7 million. This funding will include measures such as:

• additional funding for the National Governing Bodies of Sport
• a doubling of the funding specifically targeted at increasing female participation in sport, will see the “Women in Sport” fund go from €2 million to €4 million and will target areas such as participation, coaching & officiating, leadership, and visibility
• additional funding to support delivery of the National Sports Policy and continue to delivery in for high performance athletes
• continued investment is being provided towards hosting Major Sports Events and support for projects such as the Ryder Cup 2027 and the College Football Classic

Sport funding will also support Ireland’s hosting of the UEFA Euro 2028 championships, which as you know will be jointly hosted with the UK, following yesterday’s very positive news.

This will be the largest single international sporting event held in Ireland.

The successful bid was built on strong collaboration between football associations, government partners, city, stadia and other stakeholders across Ireland and the UK. We will continue to work with the FAI and other partners to ensure that the benefits are maximised for all and towards making this tournament the most sustainable and inclusive ever held on these islands.

In relation to Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, funding has been maintained at 2023 levels and work is now underway with respect to the 2023 round of this programme.

The increased funding for Sport under Budget 2024 is designed to boost participation in sport at all levels of ability and across all sporting activities.

Through our investment in sport, we will reap the benefits as a society, in terms of our physical and mental wellbeing, and in terms of community integration.

From hosting major events to supporting our high-performance athletes on their Olympics journey, this government is providing the financial support to ensure Ireland’s place on the world stage.

And we will continue to develop sporting facilities in communities across the country because behind every international sporting success story, is the community and volunteers, that shaped them.

Budget 2024 delivers on our ‘Sport for All’ approach and I welcome its investment in our sporting community.