€147,000 Boost for Mayo for Sport and Physical Activity Measures
Date: 28-09-2020
€147,000 Boost for Mayo for Sport and Physical Activity Measures
Sport and physical activity in Mayo has received a welcome boost, with €147,000 being allocated to Mayo through the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The allocation is part of a total investment package of €7.3m in Dormant Accounts Funding announced by Sport Ireland for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide.
Sport Ireland’s investment aims to engage with communities across the country, focusing on people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and from disadvantaged communities.
Included in the allocation to Mayo is the Lough Lannagh Outdoor Sports Hub, Ballinrobe Sports Hub, Ballina Urban Adventure Initiative, Disability Sports Equipment, Volunteer Training Supports and Youth Leadership Training.
Speaking about the new round of Dormant Accounts Funding, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, said: “A key priority for Government is the targeting of resources at programmes that seek to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular socio-economic disadvantage. Similarly, we are keen to ensure that interventions are in place to boost participation levels among people with disabilities. The range of measures funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund is helping to make sport and physical activity more inclusive and accessible for many people right across Ireland.”
Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers TD, added: “The positive impact of sport and physical activity on our physical and mental wellbeing cannot be overstated. The current pandemic has confirmed the critical importance of sport to Irish society and the uplift it provides to people’s spirits. While keeping us fit, regular physical activity is an excellent social outlet for many. The investment package announced today will have a positive impact on the health of the nation, and support the growth of community and social cohesion through sport.”
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, commented: “The increase in Dormant Accounts Funding will enable Sport Ireland, supported by National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Ireland. Key to the work of Sport Ireland is the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to partake in sport and physical activity, no matter what their circumstances.”
The extension of the Urban Adventure Initiative to Ballina was one of the standout projects from this round of funding.
Chairman of Mayo Sports Partnership Cllr Michael Loftus commented “ COVID19 has impacted on sport as much as any other part of society. I am delighted to see both the Lough Lannagh and Ballina Urban Adventure initiatives supported in this recent round of Dormant Account funding. There has been massive uptake in outdoor sports in recent months and these projects will help to build on this trend even further. I would like to thank Sport Ireland in particular for their ongoing support”
As with previous funding announced, the investment is closely aligned with the National Sports Policy and the National Physical Activity Plan. A particular emphasis is placed on implementing programmes to promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people with a disability and the development of programmes to address transitions and drop out from physical activity.
Charlie Lambert, Coordinator of Mayo Local Sports Partnership said: “ We plan to assist communities and in particular disadvantaged groups of the population in providing increased opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity. Projects such as Lough Lannagh Castlebar and Ballina Urban Adventure initiatives will help to make outdoor adventure sport more accessible to all sectors of our population in Mayo.”
See the full list of funded projects here.