Budget 2009

Sparks

Okay, so I guess folks noticed that we had a budget yesterday
How does it affect us?

From the FIS website:

CULLEN DETAILS IMPACT OF BUDGET ON SPORT

Martin Cullen whilst acknowledging the importance of sport to the physical and social capital of the country confirmed that funding for sport in 2009 had been reduced to €195 million. The Minister acknowledged that this represented a 42% reduction on 2008 funding of €336 million but maintained that when the once off contribution of €116 million was taken into account the reduction is in the order of 11%.

The Minister confirmed that all commitments made under the Sports Capital Programme and the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme up to and including 2008 would be met. He stated that the provision in relation to capital funding in Budget 2009 would allow these commitments to be met.

Martin Cullen said that the Irish Sports Council Funding would be confirmed on publication of the Revised Estimates. It is anticipated that the Estimates will be published in the week begining 13th April.

Also from the FIS website:

CALL TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR SPORT



The Federation, which represents 64 sports and over 1.5 million people, has written to all politicians pointing out the consequences of reducing funding and particularly funding for the Irish Sports Council any further. Already some 35% has been wiped from overall government investment in sport for 2009 with suspension of the Sports Capital Programmes, the Local Authority Swimming Pool programme and uncertainty regarding the future of the National Sports Campus.

Calling on the Government to protect the remaining sports budget earlier today (Thursday, 2 April, 2009), Ms Sarah O’Connor, chief executive of the Federation of Irish Sports, said that it was particularly important that the Government made no further reduction into Irish Sports Council funding which has already been reduced by 8% over the 2008 level. "Any further reduction in this budget will undoubtedly have a major impact on sport at all levels from the grassroots right through to our elite sportsmen and sportswomen especially those with their sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London."

She said that she was speaking on behalf of all of Irish sports including the major sports bodies, all of whom expressed their concern at the potential for long-term damage should funding be reduced. In particular she noted that any further reduction in the Sports Council funding could not be sustained without:-

• loss of jobs & expertise in the NGB sector and Local Sports Partnerships
• collapse in the sports development and participation programmes
• significant reduction and/or elimination of the High Performance Programmes
• loss of grant aid received by elite athletes
• impacting on international performance including London 2012
• reduction in access of local communities to sport & physical activity
• erosion of social capital provided by sport

She said that the belief amongst all of the sporting organisations was that further reductions in funding could set Irish sports back ten years. "Irish Sport has progressed significantly in the last 10 years. There can be little doubt that much of this progress is attributable to the government investment in sport which only commenced with any significance in 1997. The reality is however that any further reduction in the funding available to the Irish Sports Council will result in much of this hard work and effort being undone resulting in the reduction in the availability of sport in local communities as well as impacting on the ability of our elite athletes to be the best that they can be."

She said that in the appeal to the Government they had also pointed out the major role sport has to play both in terms of self esteem but also in the actual health of the nation.

"We have much to be proud of but sport is not just about national pride. It is even more important than that. Each year sport contributes more than €2 billion to our economy (ESRI Report).

And that again is only part of the story. Over one million people actively participate in sport on a regular basis and as worldwide research shows that has a hugely positive effort on the cost of health provision in this country. To put it in perspective research has shown in the US inactivity (non participation in any sporting activity) costs the country in excess of $70 billion annually in terms of spending on health. If the same model was to be applied in Ireland the cost to our health service is almost €1 billion."

pullandbang

On a personal level, I would normally have gone to Kerry this weekend to the two day shoot in Knocknagoshel and then done Bishop's Mt on the Monday. That's three shoots plus the associated spend on hotels, food and maybe the odd pint or twelve.

Instead, I'm going to do one shoot somewhere, either Sunday or Monday and travel back home afterwards.

Multiply this by lots of other shooters and you can see the effect.

It's not that I've lost my job, or had a pay cut - yet, (touch wood) it's just the general atmosphere of uncertainty and not knowing how things will be in 3/6/12 months time.