Budget 2022 Speech by Minister of State Chambers

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Go raibh maith agat, a Aire.

I ndiaidh dúshláin na bliana anuraidh agus go deimhin na bliana seo, fáiltím roimh an mhaoiniú breise d’ós cionn €7m atá á leithdháileadh don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht i gCáinaisnéis 2022. Leis seo, is fiú €85.6m an méid airgid a bheidh le caitheamh san earnáil seo in 2022. Is méadú 9% é seo ó allúntas 2021.

An bhliain seo chugainn, cuirfear maoiniú breise reatha de €1.5m ar fáil d’Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Cuirfear maoiniú breise de €1m ar fáil faoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga na Roinne;

Cuirfear maoiniú breise de €2.3m ar fáil don Roinn le haghaidh a Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht;

Cuirfear €800,000 sa bhreis ar fáil chun tacú leis an Phróiseas Pleanála Teanga;

Cuirfear €700,00 breise ar fáil ón Rialtas ó dheas don bhForas Teanga; agus

Cuirfear maoiniú breise de €4.2m ar fáil do TG4 mar léiriú ar a thábhacht do chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge.

Is féidir liom a fhógairt inniu go gcuirfear acmhainní breise ar fáil do mo Roinn fhéin agus d’Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga araon i 2022 chun an reachtaíocht nua seo a chur i bhfeidhm agus chun a cumasú don Choimisinéir a chuid córais monatóireachta a neartú.

Beidh €14.450m in airgead caipitil ar fáil d’Údarás an bhliain seo chugainn, méadú de 60% ar an allúntas a bhí ag an eagraíocht i 2019. Tugadh méadú suntasach breise don Údarás i mbliana le dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna a chruthaigh an phaindéim dá gcuid cliantchomhlachtaí.

Tá an t-allúntas méadaithe sin coinnithe ag an Údaráis sa mBuiséad seo – rud a dhéanfaidh difríocht ollmhór don eagraíocht agus iad ag pleanáil do na blianta amach romhainn.

This is our second Covid Budget and thankfully the outlook for the coming period is a lot more positive than when I sat in this seat this 12 months ago.

Then, public health advice meant much of our sporting system was shut down, children and people of all ages were unable to play the sports and activities they love; fans weren’t permitted at games, and the summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games were in doubt.

It is through the dedication, commitment and perseverance of sports people across the country that we are now in such a positive space where people are returning to sport.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers, players, coaches, clubs, groups, associations, governing bodies and the sports system as a whole for helping us get to where we are today.

Fans are now back in the stands and terraces in grounds across the country while our Olympic and Paralympic athletes performed heroically in Tokyo - taking home 11 medals and making their families and their country immensely proud.

The scenes from the likes of Portland Row and Skibbereen, Clontarf and Cabra - and everywhere else - provided the country with a huge lift over the summer and gave us a timely reminder of the power of sport and why it is deserves support and investment.

I am delighted to announce a 2022 provision of €181.2m for Sports and Recreational services – a 6% per cent increase.

€96.2m in current funding has been allocated to Sport Ireland. This will allow for the continued recovery and growth of our grassroots clubs, associations, sport bodies and the entire sector in 2022.

This also ensures additional funding for high performance sport as part of Team Ireland’s preparations for Paris 2024, consistent with the aims, objectives and funding trajectory of the National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027 and the High Performance Strategy 2021-2032.

Budget2022 should be remembered as the Budget that has levelled the playing field.

Equal funding is now being allocated to our female and male intercounty Gaelic games players. This was a major priority for me and I am really pleased to see this promise being delivered now.

This sends an important message to girls playing sport in this country that they are valued and that they should aspire to reach the very highest level of sport in the knowledge they will be treated equally.

2022 funding for the Sports Capital and Equipment programme has been increased by €6.6m, whilst funding for the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund has been maintained at current levels to ensure that our sports infrastructure right across the country can continue to grow and develop to meet the ever increasing demand in this area.

I am pleased to announce that another increase in Dormant Accounts funding for sport of €2m brings the total allocation to €12m. This funding will specifically target hard-to-reach communities to promote and sustain participation in sport and physical activity for all.

We will also continue the development of world class facilities at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 with €9.6m capital funding allocated.

As Minister with responsibility for Sport, I am ambitious about attracting major international sporting events to Ireland. This is why €6.4m has been made available to the Major Events Division in my department to support Ireland’s continued ambition to host major events including the joint 2030 World Cup bid.

The health and societal benefits associated with sports participation and engagement are well documented, therefore a vibrant sports sector is a critical component to well-being as we begin to emerge, recover and adapt to the legacy of Covid-19.

I believe that the funding package secured for Sport as part of Budget 2022 will ensure a sports sector fit for purpose, equipped with the necessary resources to ensure the viability and vibrancy of the sector.

Tá mé muiníneach go gcuirfidh na bearta agus na tionscnaimh a fógraíodh inné ar chumas na n-earnálacha seo teacht ar ais chucu féin go sciobtha ó thionchair na paindéime agus go gcuirfear ar a gcumas fás agus forbairt a dhéanamh in 2022.

Go raibh maith agaibh.