Mayo Sports Partnership allocated €85,000 for Outdoor Sport Infrastructure & Biodiversity
Date: 25-10-2024
The Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne, has confirmed allocations under the new Participation Nation Outdoor Fund.
A total of €2.26 million has been allocated to 30 local sports partnerships across the country to support the purchase and installation of permanent sport infrastructure that can be placed on public land for community use. Mayo Sports Partnership is to receive €67,500 towards the installation of 4 Sports Equipment Storage boxes in one location in each Municipal District ie Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar and Westport. The Box Up units as they are called will allow free ease of access to sports equipment ie Basketballs, Footballs, Table Tennis Bats & Balls, Tennis Racquets, Fitness Equipment, Walking Poles etc , it all depends on what facilities are available at the location.
In line with the Programme for Government target of reaching 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, the fund is designed to spur physical activity in local community settings by supporting Local Sports Partnerships with the development of barrier-free sport projects on publicly-accessible land.
Announcing the allocations, Minister Byrne said:
“I am very glad to announce the first allocations under the Participation Nation Outdoor Fund which will benefit every Local Sports Partnership across the country. This is a new fund which seeks to increase participation levels in local community settings by assisting Local Sports Partnerships with the purchase and installation of barrier-free sports infrastructure.”
"As a government, we want to see our participation levels in sport and physical activity maximised to the greatest extent possible. Budget 2025 represented a landmark moment for Irish sport with our target of doubling the sport budget compared to 2018 levels being reached two years ahead of schedule.”
In addition to the Sports Equipment allocation Minister Catherine Martin confirmed details of allocations being made to local sports partnerships for biodiversity measures associated with sports facilities under the Participation Nation Outdoor Fund. A total of €18,000 will be available for initiatives such as biodiversity pollinator-friendly planting, safe nesting sites for birds, bees and bats, the installation of biodiversity ponds, hedgerow and tree planting as well as rainwater and bog gardens.
Commenting on the allocation new Mayo Sports Partnership Chairperson Lyndon Jones stated
"Accessibility is a key value we support in Mayo Sports Partnership and the availability of free use to use sports equipment in 4 local authority owned parks will be a game changer. If this pilot is successful, we may look at extending it into other locations, subject to funding of course"
“ It could be some months however before we can get these boxes into the designated sites so we would ask people to be patient. Many thanks to Mayo County Councils Parks Superintendent for all his help in identifying suitable locations for this phase of the initiative” added Mayo Sports Partnership Head Charlie Lambert.
Mayo Sports Partnership can be contacted at 094 9064360 or by email at mayosportspartnership@mayococo.ie