Labour will continue to boost sports funding – Ó Ríordáin
LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO BOOST SPORTS FUNDING – Ó RÍORDÁIN
Minister for New Communities, Culture, Equality and Drugs Strategy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin today launched the Labour Party’s sports policy with former Ireland football player and manager, Johnny Giles.
Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin commented: “Sport is at the heart of so many communities right across the country and I am delighted to see that the Labour Party is ensuring it gets discussed during the General Election Campaign.
“One of the initiatives I am proud to have worked on over the last five years is my Family Learning Through Football project. This involved working in conjunction with the FAI & Dublin City Council and the students, parents and staff in St Eithne’s GNS, Edenmore. The project used football as a means to develop and enhance better communication between staff, parents and students whilst also encouraging weekly physical exercise.
“If returned to government, Labour will continue to boost sports funding in local communities through the Sports Capital Programme and reform the programme’s operations to prioritise joint funding applications between local clubs and schools or youth organisations. This, along with the rollout of the new National Physical Activity Plan, will make it easier than ever for people, especially young people, to get involved and develop a lifelong engagement with sport.
“I would also like to welcome the Labour Party commitment to fund more world-class sporting facilities at the National Indoor Arena and National Sports Campus. This will be crucial to giving our excellent athletes the backing they deserve, as will our plans for a specific sports bidding entity. This new entity will facilitate bidding for sporting events across all Irish sports organisations and will be a major asset in terms of attracting top events to our country.
“Labour also acknowledges the growing role of sports tourism within our economy and will put a comprehensive sports tourism policy at the heart of our national sports policy.
“It is through initiatives like this that quality of life in our local communities and excellence in international competitions is achieved. I would urge all voters to back the Labour Party to deliver on these and other excellent proposals.”
ENDS