Sporting chance for disadvantaged

Minister for Sport Dr Jim McDaid (second from right) gathered his three wise men yesterday for the announcement of a new initiative to promote sport in areas of social disadvantage.

The Irish Sports Council yesterday announced a new initiative for developing sport in disadvantaged areas around the country in partnership with the three major governing bodies for soccer, rugby and Gaelic games.

Representatives from the FAI, the IRFU and the GAA assembled in Government buildings to outline the plans for the initiative, the principal aim of which is to achieve a wider social inclusion within each of the organisations. The Sports Council will be providing £800,000 to help implement the various programmes over the next three years, subject to continuing assessment by the governing bodies and the council to ensure the range of targets are met.

It was one of those rare occasions when the three major sporting bodies come together to address the same issue, with the GAA and the IRFU represented by their respective presidents, Joe McDonagh and Bill Lavery, and the FAI's technical director Brian Kerr speaking on behalf of football's governing body.

The Sports Council had targeted improving sporting opportunities within disadvantaged areas during its establishment as a statutory body and there is a commitment from the governing bodies to match the Government investment in terms of finance, resources, facilities and personnel.

The GAA has targeted areas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford to build on existing club structures and relationships already developed within the local area. "All sporting organisations want to increase the participation and enjoyment level of their sports," said McDonagh. "We recognise the huge numbers not active in sport and we've appointed the best of our development officers to work in these key areas." The development programmes within these areas are already up and running.

The FAI, in consultation with the Sports Council, has developed proposals for rural areas in Sligo, Donegal and Athlone.

"Our challenge, like that of the GAA and IRFU, is to get more people playing in areas where they haven't had the opportunity before," said Kerr. "It's good to think that we can all co-operate on this a little and I think the increased participation will be for the good of every sport down the road."

The IRFU will concentrate its efforts on the youth of Tallaght through the establishment of a school and club structure. The aim is to provide new pathways for playing, coaching and administration starting at national school level while also giving people of all ages in the Tallaght community an opportunity for positive involvement in rugby. "It will be a significant development for us in this area," said Lavery. "The aim is to have a youth team in Tallaght in the near future but the social dimension of this development is equally important and worthy of our full support."

Speaking at yesterday's announcement, the Minister for Sport, Dr Jim McDaid, highlighted the important social dimension of sport in Ireland. "The aim of this scheme is to assist our main national governing bodies in using their considerable organisational skills, sporting expertise and resources to provide sporting opportunities for young people at risk," he said.

"Participation in sport can help to overcome the isolating effects of social exclusion in disadvantaged areas and young people involved in sporting pursuits are less likely to be lured into anti-social behaviour such as drug-taking and petty crime."

The Minister also stressed that these initiatives will help strengthen links between the three main governing bodies as well as local schools, voluntary and community groups involved in each of the sports.

Each of the sporting bodies will engage development officers, local project officers and coaches to work to achieve the agreed objectives. Current participation rates and trends within the various age groups will be assessed. It is also hoped that a number of established sporting names will be used to encourage and inspire participation among the young people involved.