Minister Thomas Byrne outlines ambitious package of measures including gym tax credit, raising betting tax levy and investment in football academies to drive participation and support high performance sport
Fianna Fáil is committing to investing in our sporting landscape through a range of new initiatives across funding, education and massive infrastructure investment to ensure everyone, from all ages and backgrounds, can be active, participate in sport and achieve their potential.
In the last Government, Fianna Fáil Ministers oversaw the two largest ever Sports Capital programmes benefiting clubs, groups and schools in communities in every county in Ireland.
The National Sports Policy and the recently published Sports Action Plan set ambitious targets to increase participation in sport and in particular to tackle the participation gaps that exists across our society. Fianna Fail’s Sport for All policy contains a range of news measures focused under five separate heading to achieve these objectives.
- Tackling participation gaps
Minister Thomas Byrne said: “Fianna Fáil introduced gender quotes on the boards of our national sporting bodies and we are dedicated to tackling the participation gaps that still exist in sport. Everyone should have the opportunity to play and participate and achieve their potential. Tackling the gaps will help us reach our participation target of 60pc of adults exercising regularly. We also want to incentivise physical activity and the positive wellbeing benefits that come from it by introducing a new tax credit on gym memberships.”
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Increase Sport Ireland Core Funding for sports clubs to increase the participation levels by people with disabilities.
- Introduce a tax credit on gym membership and explore other tax options to encourage active participation in sport and exercise.
- Implement the New National Swimming Strategy by investing in pools and swimming facilities allowing everyone an opportunity to swim.
- Sport through education
Minister Byrne said: “In Government Fianna Fail developed new policies and linkages to better connect the education system and school facilities with local clubs. We are ambitious to go even further if returned to Government by establishing a new PE hall fund and a new school yard fund to repair school yards and playing pitches.”
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Set up a new dedicated PE Hall Fund in co-operation with the Sports Capital Fund to provide specific new Physical Education facilities to schools.
- Increase the number of schools offering Physical Education as a Leaving Certificate exam subject.
- Establish a new School Yard Fund for surface works and equipment.
- Funding our sport ecosystem
Minister Byrne said: “Fianna Fáil ministers invested record levels of funding in sport, transforming sports facilities and infrastructure in towns and villages all over the country. We want to expand on this further and will increase the betting levy with part of the revenue generated specifically ring-fenced for improving sports facilities and stadiums”
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Increase the Betting Tax Levy from 2% to 3%, with a portion of the additional yield to be allocated for the development of sports infrastructure.
- Increase capital funds to develop multisport facilities in communities that can be shared by various local sports clubs.
- Allow approved sports bodies to create long-term Strategic Development Funds for capital investment in facilities, removing the requirement that the proceeds of donations (and associated tax relief) be tied to a specific approved capital project
- High Performance Sport
Minister Byrne said: “We are committing to establishing a new fund to develop football academies. This new fund would enable Ireland to become a hub fostering new young talent as the pathway of young players going to the UK is no longer available following Brexit. This fund will enable us to develop our own grassroots football academies across the country. This fund has the potential to transform the development of skilled and talented young footballers across our island.”
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
- Complete the development of the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.
- Proceed with the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre, as well as the new National Cricket Stadium.
- Create a Next Generation Fund to support football academies.
- Provide dedicated funding to support and train high-performance coaches.
- Ireland as a sporting destination
Minister Byrne said: “Hosting major international sporting events can bring enormous benefits to our country including growing participation, bringing communities together and attracting tourism. We are already preparing to host the Ryder Cup and Euro 2028. Our recently published major events policy will guide future bids to host European and world competitions.”
If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will:
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