Paralympics Ireland has been allocated €450,000 in high performance operations and administration support as part of the package of high performance funding announced by Dr. Úna May from Sport Ireland and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin. This will see the level of funding allocated to Paralympics Ireland remain the same as 2022.
Para Athletes will also receive direct support from Sport Ireland through the Carding scheme which sees a total of €685,000, from the €3,486,500 fund, allocated to 28 Para athletes, including pilots. Athletes from Para Cycling, Para Athletics, Para Swimming, Para Rowing and Para Triathlon will receive carding support. ‘Podium’ support, the highest level of carding, will be made available to Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal, Josephine Healion, Linda Kelly and Ronan Grimes, from Para Cycling, Jason Smyth from Para Athletics and the Para Swimming trio of Ellen Keane, Nicole Turner and double world championship medallist Róisín Ní Riain.
Paralympics Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Stephen McNamara, welcomed the funding saying “Paralympics Ireland are grateful to Sport Ireland for their continued support of our athletes, directly through carding, and through high performance funding to Paralympics Ireland. We will continue to use all funding received to ensure that our athletes are supported in their aims of competing at the very highest level and on the biggest stage. We will also continue to advocate for Paralympic sport, for Disability sport and for the disability community as we work towards creating an environment that is fully inclusive and welcoming to all members of society.”
