Horse Sport Ireland secure funding of €55,000 for projects under Dormant Account Funding Programme

Sport Ireland and the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD have launched the Dormant Account Funding for 2020, announcing an investment package for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide. The investment aims to engage with communities across the country, focusing on people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and from disadvantaged communities.

Horse Sport Ireland submitted an application under the NGB Community & Disability Sports Inclusion Fund and was successful in securing funding of €40,000. Funding secured by Horse Sport Ireland under the NGB Community & Disability Sports Inclusion Fund is in partnership with AIRE and Childvision who will both deliver projects which aim to provide comprehensive training to equine professionals in therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning.

Horse Sport Ireland also made an application under the Volunteer Training and Support Programme and was successfully awarded €15,000 for the Horse Sport Ireland Volunteer Programme. Projects under the programme will be delivered by HSI in partnership with Showjumping Ireland, Dressage Ireland, Eventing Ireland and Volunteer Ireland. The initiative is for Horse Sport Ireland and its affiliates to have access to fully trained volunteers, to help facilitate in the running of equestrian shows. Horse Sport Ireland and Volunteer Ireland will be running training programmes for those people who would like to get involved in volunteering at equestrian events.

Speaking about the new round of Dormant Account Funding, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, said:

“A key priority for Government is the targeting of resources at programmes that seek to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular socio-economic disadvantage. Similarly, we are keen to ensure that interventions are in place to boost participation levels among people with disabilities. The range of measures funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund is helping to make sport and physical activity more inclusive and accessible for many people right across Ireland.”

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Reynolds added:

“On behalf of Horse Sport Ireland, I would like to thank Sport Ireland and The Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht for this very welcome funding which has been announced under the Dormant Account Funding for 2020. Equestrian Sport has a long tradition of running successful programmes and competitions for people with disabilities and this funding will help to build on and continue the excellent work being done by those involved.
“The affiliate bodies of Horse Sport Ireland have identified a lack of volunteers as a growing concern within the sport and the funding secured under the Volunteer Training and Support Programme will help us to train new and existing volunteers who are crucial to the growth of our sports. We now look forward to working with AIRE, Childvision, Volunteer Ireland and our Affiliates in delivering the projects which have been funded.”

A particular emphasis of the Dormant Account Funding Programme is placed on implementing programmes to promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people with a disability and the development of programmes to address transitions and drop out from physical activity.

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, John Treacy, commented:

“The increase in Dormant Accounts Funding will enable Sport Ireland, supported by National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Ireland. Key to the work of Sport Ireland is the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to partake in sport and physical activity, no matter what their circumstances.”