LOCAL SPORTS CLUBS SHORT-CHANGED BY NEW GOVERNMENT - SENATOR POWER

Local sports clubs have been short-changed by the new government, according to Dublin North East Fianna Fáil Senator, Averil Power.  

Last week, the Minister for Sport Michael Ring announced funding approval of €4.5 million for Local Authority sports projects throughout the country.  

Although Dublin City is the most populated Local Authority area, it only received €341,400 in sports grants.  This amounts to 7.5% of the total grants approved. In contrast, Mayo County Council has been approved for sports grants of €677,991 which constitutes 15% of the total sports grant, twice the amount allocated to Dublin.

According to Senator Power, “Favouritism towards Mayo is even more apparent when the populations of the two areas are taken into account. Based on the 2011 census figures, Mayo secured a grant of €4.20 per person, while Dublin got just 64 cent per person.

“It appears that the only rational explanation for the people of Dublin being treated so unfairly is that the Taoiseach and his Minister for Sport, both Mayo men, are more concerned about looking after their own back yard rather than sharing limited State resources in a fair fashion. This is disgraceful given the number of sports clubs in North Dublin that need support”, she concluded.