Paralympics Ireland has been awarded €30,000 under the 2026 Women in Sport Programme, as part of a €4 million Government investment in women and girls across Irish sport.
The funding was announced by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and Minister for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue.
The €4 million allocation matches the record level of investment provided in each of the previous two years and is double the amount allocated to the programme in 2022.
Paralympics Ireland is one of 47 National Governing Bodies to receive funding through the 2026 programme. A total of €1.905 million has been allocated directly to National Governing Bodies, alongside further investment in collaborative projects, large field sports and programmes delivered through Local Sports Partnerships.
The Women in Sport Programme supports projects and initiatives for women and girls across four target areas: active participation, coaching and officiating, visibility, and leadership and governance.
Established in 2005, the programme has delivered more than €30 million in ringfenced investment for women in sport. It supports the National Sports Policy’s aim of removing barriers to participation and providing equal opportunities for women and girls across Irish sport.
Minister O’Donovan said the latest Irish Sports Monitor findings showed that 46 per cent of women now participate in sport weekly, while also highlighting the continued need to address the gender participation gap.
He said the 2026 investment would be important in supporting the Government’s commitment to eliminating that gap and ensuring women and girls have the opportunity to participate and excel in all areas of sport.
Minister McConalogue said sustained investment in the Women in Sport Programme over the past 20 years had enabled the sports sector to provide greater opportunities for women to participate and to take up coaching and leadership positions.
Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Úna May, said the programme reflected Sport Ireland’s commitment to ensuring women and girls have equal opportunities to participate in sport throughout their lives.
Sport Ireland Director and Women in Sport Lead, Nora Stapleton, said the targeted investment would allow National Governing Bodies to build on progress already made while continuing to address areas where further work is required.
The funding will also support long-term strategic projects, including Her Moves, initiatives supporting women in leadership and work to increase the visibility of women in sport.
Chairperson of the Women in Sport Committee, Michelle Tanner, said the continued development of the Women in Sport Policy reflected two decades of progress and a shared commitment to gender equality across Irish sport.
