Minister O’Donovan Announces Significant Investment For Limerick Sports Partnership

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, today announced an investment package of over €5.9m from Sport Ireland to support the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), which includes €312,901 for Limerick Sports Partnership.
A total of €5,922,798 will be allocated to support the core work of the 29 LSPs; including the delivery of National Programmes, Education & Training initiatives, Strategic Development, Community Sports Development Officers, the Sports Inclusion Disability programme, Women in Sport Programmes and general participation programmes.
Speaking at the announcement at the Croom Sport Complex in Limerick today, Minister O’Donovan said: “I am delighted to announce funding of over €312,000 for Limerick Sports Partnership as part of a significant Government investment in the Local Sports Partnership Network. This investment will allow the Partnerships to continue to provide many sporting opportunities for people here in Limerick and in local communities right across Ireland. The vital work of the Local Sports Partnership Network in increasing participation, particularly among those sectors of society that are underrepresented in sport, makes a substantial contribution to the health and welfare of individuals, communities and the nation.”
The key aims of the LSPs are to increase levels of participation in sport especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls & women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities.
Local programmes supported by Sport Ireland’s investment in Limerick Sports Partnership include: the Women on Wheels Programme, which has seen 200 cyclists take part over the last three years; six community walking programmes in Croom, Ballingary, Bruff Ballybricken and Limerick; Traveller Health and Fitness in Askeaton, Newcaslte West, Abbeyfeale, Rathkeale and Limerick; and the TY VIP Programme which sees students in 13 post-primary schools receive coaching and mentoring while delivering 100 community coaching hours locally.
Throughout 2016, 291,947 people participated in 861 participation programmes delivered locally by LSPs across Ireland, with 18,500 participants taking part in the Operation Transformation 5k Fun Runs and Walks and 15,500 cyclists taking part in the An Post Cycle Series.
2016 also saw 10,404 female participants taking part in 70 local Women in Sport programmes. This year €115,000 will be invested in LSPs through the Women in Sport Programme, which aims to raise the overall physical activity levels among women.