Record funding for Women in Sport programme announced

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne, have announced a record investment of €4 million under the Women in Sport Programme for 2024.

The record funding allocation is an increase from €2.7m last year and is a doubling of the amount allocated in 2021 and 2022.

The Women in Sport Programme funds projects and initiatives across a wide range of sport. These projects support the government’s vision for women in sport as one where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, while enjoying a lifelong involvement in sport.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin said “the record €4 million provided by government for women in sport this year will go towards promoting more involvement by women and girls at all levels in sport.”

“The government and Sport Ireland remain committed to eliminating the gender participation gap in sport. The recent Irish Sports Monitor Report for 2023 shows that the gap is now below 3% for the first time. The funding announced today will support sporting organisations in putting programmes in place to increase women’s participation in their sports and assist in achieving our aim of equal participation by 2027.”

Minister for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne T.D said “the record funding allocated by government to support the participation of women and girls in sport is delivering real and meaningful change.”

“We now see the gender participation gap in sport at its lowest ever level and the record funding allocated by the government for the Women in Sport Programme reflects our determination to see this participation gap eliminated. Across the country, 45 sporting bodies will receive €2 million in funding under the Women in Sport Programme and a further €1 million will be allocated to football, Gaelic games and rugby. This record funding will enhance existing Women in Sport programmes and support the creation of exciting new initiatives across areas such as active participation, coaching, officiating and leadership.”

 The Women in Sport funding will be allocated across several strands. Under the first of these, 45 National Governing Bodies will receive allocations totalling €2m as outlined in the table below. Sport Ireland will also ring-fence €1m to support the Large Field Sports. This investment will go towards further development of women’s football and rugby as well as Women in Sport programmes and projects that support integration within Gaelic games.

Sport Ireland Chief Executive, Dr Úna May, said “it is great news to welcome a record investment in funding under the Women in Sport Programme in 2024. Our aim is to have more women involved in sports and make sure they have the same chances to succeed in sport. This increased financial support will help to build on the current success we have with the WIS Programme.”

A sum of €150,000 will also be allocated to Local Sports Partnerships to assist their ongoing work with women and girls.