HSI partnership with RDAI secures €52k funding from Sport Ireland and Minister for Sport

Horse Sport Ireland has secured over €50,000 through Sport Ireland and the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD’s Dormant Account Funding for 2022.

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 Diversity & Inclusion Fund and NGB Sport For All Disability Supports Club Fund was successful in securing funding of €52,000 when the announcement of a €5.5m investment package for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide was made.

Cian O’Connor with Lynn Frain, from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, as Members of the Irish  Aga Khan squad support the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland. Pic: Sportsfile

Funding secured by Horse Sport Ireland under the NGB Community & Disability Sports Inclusion Fund for €45,000 is in partnership with RDAI, who will all deliver projects which aim to provide comprehensive training to RDAI volunteers in therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning. Grants totalling €7,000 were awarded under the NBG Sport for All Disability Supports Club Fund in partnership with St Laserian’s RDAI Group, Nenagh RDAI Group and Galway Mid-County Pony Club.

In order for RDAI Athletes to safely mount and dismount a horse or pony, there is, at times, the need for a Mounting Block. Many athletes will also need the assistance of a helper or helper to mount and dismount even with the aid of a mounting block.

This funding awarded to St Laserian’s and Nenagh RDAI groups will assist the RDAI Group with their activities through provision of a Double Block mounting block. This will ensure that the athlete and one or two other people can stand on the block and the athlete can safely mount or dismount. Without this mounting block the task is done from the ground which increases the risk of injury to the rider and the people assisting.

Speaking about the new round of Dormant Account Funding, Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD, said: “This €5.5m. programme of measures will help to promote Diversity, Inclusion & Equality in sport. Accessibility, availability, and opportunity are key parts of our investment approach for Dormant Accounts Funding, and this investment package showcases the importance of increasing activity levels for people in Ireland.”

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.

Galway Mid County Pony Club has a number of riders who have physical disabilities including an amputee athlete and an athlete with Cerebral Palsy and the funding will help provide physical resources to assist their health and safety while riding including adapted equipment, mounting block, safety stirrups etc.

Una May, CEO, Sport Ireland, with Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State for Sport, the Gaeltacht & Defence and Denis Duggan, HSI CEO, left, at HSI Headquarters in Naas, Kildare. Pic: Sportsfile

It will also help in providing access to an Equine Facilitated Therapist to help them with their balance and positioning, and riders, who gain a lot of enjoyment from participating in Mounted games with their peers as funding would go to expand the programme and enable the riders to enjoy and succeed in this discipline.

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, Dr. Úna May, added: “This Dormant Accounts Funding has enabled Sport Ireland to further support the sports sector through our National Governing Bodies, funded bodies and our network of Local Sports Partnerships to deliver opportunities for everyone to participate. I am pleased to see such a wide-ranging programme which aims to remove the barriers for getting involved in sport.”