Additional Funding Announced Following World Cup Success

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross, T.D., and the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin, T.D., today announced the allocation of €1.75million in additional funding for high performance sport. The Board of Sport Ireland has agreed that the funding should be allocated to National Governing Bodies and other sporting bodies to assist athletes’ preparations for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

Announcing the funding, Minister Ross said: “We have seen some truly extraordinary achievements over the past few weeks, with medal success for our Women’s Hockey Team, as well as Irish rowers, sprinters, para-cyclists and gymnasts. Recognising the success of our sportsmen and women, who do so much to inspire Irish children and young people, I am delighted to announce this additional funding for high performance programmes across a range of sports.

As I indicated previously, a significant proportion – some €500,000 – of this funding is being allocated to Hockey Ireland and I have no doubt that they will continue to build upon their remarkable successes of recent years”

Speaking about the announcment Hockey Ireland’s CEO, Jerome Pels said ‘Hockey Ireland is absolutely delighted with today’s announcement of additional funding of €500,000. This is a great addition to the already substantial high-performance funding we have received for 2018, which included a special grant for World Cup participation. We are very grateful for the continued support of Sport Ireland in providing funding, facilities and services that allow our players to play at the highest level of our sport. This is fantastic news helping Hockey to progress towards Olympic Qualification and a good result in Tokyo.’