LIMERICK Sports Partnership has received almost half a million euro in funding for 2021 to support its programmes in ‘Getting Limerick Active’.
Sport Ireland has allocated €443,356 to Limerick Sports Partnership which cover both organisational core funding and programme supports.
The funding will allow Limerick Sports Partnership to continue to develop its suite of activity programmes while also focusing on increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
The key aims of Limerick Sports Partnership is to increase levels of participation in sport especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls and women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities.
Funding of €9.5 million has been approved for the network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), representing an increase of 15% on 2020 funding.
This increase in investment provides an opportunity for Sport Ireland to support a locally led safe return to sport and to further build the capacity of LSPs, increasing their reach and impact across Ireland.
Phelim Macken, Coordinator of Limerick Sports Partnership welcomed the funding: “We are delighted to secure this level of support to continue our work in increasing active behaviour across key target groups in Limerick. As COVID has had an unequal impact on some communities this funding will assist us in prioritising these groups with educational and programme supports.”
“Specific funding to target women in sport has been received so this will help to run special programmes that can help reduce the drop off in participation rates in sporting and physical activity between girls and women.”
“Covid has meant that we have had to adapt our programmes but it has also encouraged us all to take a more individual and collective responsibility for our health and Limerick Sports Partnership will support and reinforce this.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin acknowledged the importance of sport and physical activity: “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 funding to the sport 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 made a commitment 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.” he said
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland John Treacy highlighted the important role of community sport: “Throughout 2020, the network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships continued to help people get active in their communities by removing barriers to physical activity. They adapted quickly to the new ‘virtual’ landscape and rolled out a broad range of local and national initiatives targeted at all the different cohorts of people.”
“This funding will help LSPs continue this work and ensure that everyone in our society has the opportunity to share in the enjoyment as well as the mental and physical health benefits of sport and physical activity.
“But now we look forward, toward an Olympic and Paralympic Games, to the reopening of sport and physical activity for the general public and a light at the end of the tunnel. There is cause for optimism as children’s sport and some outdoor activity returns and we look forward to even more opportunities to enjoy sport and physical activity in the months ahead”. he added.
In total, Sport Ireland has announced an investment of €40 million to National Governing Bodies for Sport, High Performance athlete support as well as the network of Local Sports Partnerships for 2021.
