Green Party TD welcomes Sport & Physical Activity funding for Waterford.
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh today welcomed funding for Waterford Sport and Physical Activity projects from Dormant Accounts Funding. The funding which is allocated to Waterford Sports Partnership, Waterford Active Cities and The Shona Project is part of a nationwide investment of €6.1m in a wide range of sport and physical activity measures across the country.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said:
“I am very pleased to see organisations such as The Shona Project, Waterford Active Cities and Waterford Sports Partnership funded under the Dormant Accounts Funding scheme. These organisations, as well as the national organisations funded under the scheme, work year round with people of all ages and abilities within the community bringing sport and physical activity into their daily lives. They empower women, girls, people with a disability and those from disadvantaged backgrounds and this funding will help them make physical activity available to all, not just those who have easier access to sports facilities or can afford it.”
“The Programme for Government which I helped to negotiate in 2020, emphasised the importance of putting sport at the heart of our communities because of the positive impact it has on people’s health and their general wellbeing. We see large numbers of girls dropping out of sport in their teenage years and I’m especially pleased to see the funding for Waterford’s Shona Project, an organisation which works with young girls through their teenage years and who are having an impact on the wellbeing of the young women they work with in Waterford and throughout the country”.
As well as €5000 for Volunteer Supports and €20,000 for a Community Sport and Physical Activity Hub, Waterford Sports Partnership were allocated €100,000 under the Innovation for Sports inclusion section and €10,550 for the creation of an Urban Outdoor Adventure Hub. Waterford Active Cities were allocated €100,000 to continue their work to increase the number of people, regardless of age and ability participating in sport in the city and The Shona Project will receive €54,000 under Get Girls Active funding.
Deputy Ó Cathasaigh continued:
“We need to remove as many of the barriers which prevent people for engaging in physical activity or continuing a sport they once enjoyed. This funding will assist Waterford Sports Partnership, Waterford Active Cities and the Shona Project in removing those barriers and making sport more accessible to all”
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, added:
“This latest round of funding for the promotion and development of sport amongst those experiencing disadvantage or with a disability shows the Government’s determination to bring the benefits of sport and physical activity to these marginalised communities. The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 highlighted the importance of putting sport at the heart of a flourishing community and it made a clear commitment to encourage and promote people’s personal health, wellbeing, and physical activity. This €6.1m programme of measures will help to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular among those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. There is a wide variety of measures being implemented and I am especially pleased about the initiative to get girls more active in sport, too many of whom are still dropping out of sport in their teenage years. I encourage all concerned to actively engage with this exciting programme”
Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, Dr. Úna May, commented:
“The Dormant Accounts Funding will enable Sport Ireland to further support our Local Sports Partnerships and Cara to provide equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The National Sports Policy 2018-2027 has provided the framework for Sport in Ireland to continue to grow and this investment through the LSP’s and Cara will play an important part in increasing activity levels of people in Sport in Ireland and removing the barriers and preventative aspects for getting involved in sport.”
This €6.1million Dormant Accounts investment is closely aligned with the National Sports Policy and the National Physical Activity Plan, with the funding being disseminated into three areas; 1) Community Sports & Physical Activities Hubs (CSPAHs); 2) National Sport Education & Training and 3) Sports Measures for Disadvantaged Communities. A particular emphasis is placed on implementing programmes to promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people from diverse backgrounds, people with a disability and the development of programmes to address transitions and drop out from physical activity.
Accessibility, availability, and opportunity are components to the Dormant Accounts Funding, with this investment showcasing the importance of increasing activity levels for people in Ireland.
