Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring has welcomed €255,401 in funding which has been allocated to Mayo to support Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs ).
The funding will be allocated to support the core work of LSPs; including the delivery of national programmes, education and training initiatives, strategic development, community sports development officers, the sports inclusion disability programme, women in sport programmes, and general participation programmes.
Minister Ring said: “The role of the Local Sports Partnerships in increasing participation, particularly among those sectors of society that are underrepresented in sport, cannot be overstated.
“I want to commend the vital work they do here in Mayo which makes a substantial contribution to the health and welfare of individuals, families, communities, towns and villages.
“The significant Government investment announced today will allow the sports partnerships to continue to provide many sporting opportunities for people in local communities right across Mayo.
“The key aims of the LSPs are to increase levels of participation in sport especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls and women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities.
“Throughout 2017 across Ireland, 339,615 people participated in 936 participation programmes delivered locally by LSPs, with 18,000 participants taking part in the Operation Transformation 5k fun runs and walks and 13,063 cyclists taking part in the Sport Ireland Cycle Series.
“2017 also saw 13,274 female participants taking part in 71 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.
“One of the fundamental principles of the Local Sports Partnerships is to remove any barrier that prevents participation in sport and today’s investment will support the LSPs in the continued roll-out of programmes and initiatives which will get more people active on a regular basis and into the future,” Minister Ring concluded.
