Labour's sports investment plan
Elite amateur sports people should be awarded tax-free grants and Physical Education (PE) should be made a points subject in the Leaving Certificate, the Labour party claimed today.
Leader Pat Rabbitte also proposed increased funding as part of a major new national initiative to support sport and recreation and improve overall public health.
The "Championing our People: Labour’s agenda for investment in sport and recreation" policy proposes:
:: Tax-free grants for elite amateur sports people under a new scheme called "Gradam", similar to the existing "Aosdana" support for artists and writers;
:: Greatly increased spending on sport and recreation from Lotto funding;
:: A major initiative to promote physical recreation and general health in the community;
:: Increased funding to upgrade PE facilities in schools in co-operation with local sports bodies;
:: PE to be a "points" subject in the Junior and Leaving Certificates;
:: Putting the Irish Sports Council, to be renamed Sport and Recreation Ireland, at the heart of the public policy system and increasing its funding;
:: Long-term capital and current spending support to enable sports organisations to plan more effectively.
Labour’s Arts, Sport and Tourism Spokesman Jack Wall said sport, recreation and entertainment play a vital role in the lives of hardworking families.
“Many of our people live busy and demanding lives, so we accept the principle that quality of family time must be given priority status in our policies,” he said.
“We must provide a properly funded basis for all of our communities – be they rural or urban – so that the people living in them, through sport and recreation, may enjoy a better quality of life.”
Mr Rabbitte said sport of all kinds is an important part of people’s lives in Ireland ranging through all age groups, among men and women and across urban and rural communities.
“Labour recognises the immense community, health and significant economic benefits of sport,” he said.
“The benefits include building community coherence, improving health standards and reducing anti-social behaviour by young people.
“We will make the advancement of sport and recreation central to our policies in government. We see sport and recreation as an essential part of building a better Ireland for hardworking families and communities.
“Sport helps to build strong communities by encouraging volunteerism, involving parents and kids in local activities and integrating newly arrived families in growing new communities.
“Along with the local schools, sport is the ‘glue’ that helps bring local communities together and makes them better places to live in,” he added.
