Upfront grants to elite athletes are cut

Athletics 2006 High Performance GrantsEven without the disappointment and widespread anger of last year there were still some minor shockwaves sent through Irish sport after yesterday's announcement of grant aid to elite athletes.

The Irish Sports Council's recent policy of less equals more has been further defined, and while the overall total of €1.92 million is slightly up on 2005, it is once again clear the days of handing athletes some cash and saying good luck are over.

Athletes from 18 different sports have qualified for the 2006 carding scheme, the vast majority of which will only benefit under junior and developmental funds. The upfront grants to world class and international athletes have been cut across the board, but partly compensated by the introduction of new performance incentive payments.

Contract grants have also been introduced, which does add greater security to carded athletes, and the money goes directly to the athlete's bank account. Yet like last year, athletes no longer considered good enough don't get a look in.

There's also been a major change in the assessment of grant applications, which essentially was left up to the governing body of each sport rather than passed on to the Sports Council.

"That was part of our ongoing review," explained John Treacy, chief executive of the Sports Council. "The governing body has taken the responsibility now, and instead of sending in a load of applications and leaving it to us to make the decision, they've started making those decisions themselves.

"We have tightened the criteria again, but put more money into development squads. It's up to the governing body to decide where that goes but I'd like to see that spent on races on the international stage, even if that means getting your backside kicked."

Irish athletics is the again main beneficiary, but only 11 individuals receive direct funding. Another 19 will share the €95,000 development fund, with a further 20 sharing the junior fund. Last year's mass cull saw the likes of James Nolan, Mark Carroll, Karen Shinkins, Peter Coghlan and Gary Ryan left out and despite some encouraging runs last year they weren't welcomed back. Sonia O'Sullivan did get her grant last year following an appeal but her application wasn't put forward this year.

Yet there was some surprise at the athletes that were supported. Race walker Gillian O'Sullivan hasn't competed in almost three years because of injury but receives one of only two world-class grants (the other being Alistair Cragg), with fellow walker Jamie Costin and higher jumper Adrian O'Dwyer also receiving grants despite similar lay-offs through injury.

"These athletes have competed at the highest level," explained Treacy, "and we decided would continue to back those. Like Gillian O'Sullivan: we don't have too many athletes in track and field that can go to a World Championship and win a silver medal . . . We're putting our faith in her, and it was the same with Adrian O'Dwyer.

"He's jumped 2.30 metres, and that's a world-class performance by any stretch of the imagination."

In the meantime, the Sports Council was again intent on improving the return on their investment, which was the reasoning behind the performance incentive. For example, European Indoor champion David Gillick will only receive €12,000 this year, down on the €19,100 he got last year, but if he medals in any major championship this year he gets a 25 per cent bonus - or another €3,000.

The improved distribution of grants was also highlighted by Treacy: "In the past people have accused us of being too bureaucratic. We wanted to make certain the athletes got their money on time. It will be paid out on a quaterly basis . . . But that was only a weakness if all the governing bodies were not working at the same level."

Treacy also announced that the launch of the new Irish Institute of Sport was imminent, and was set to operate through a network of locations including Dublin, Limerick and Belfast.

WHO GOT WHAT

ATHLETICS

Alistair Cragg (World Class) 20,000

Gillian O'Sullivan (World Class) 20,000

Olive Loughnane (International) 12,000

David Gillick (International) 12,000

Roisin McGettigan (International) 12,000

Derval O'Rourke (International) 12,000

Robert Heffernan (International) 12,000

Eileen O'Keeffe (International) 12,000

Adrian O'Dwyer (International) 12,000

Marie Davenport (International) 12,000

Jamie Costin (International) 12,000

Developmental Squad (19) 95,000

Junior Squad (20) 60,000

BADMINTON

Claire Flood (International) €12,000

Scott Evans Ba (International) €12,000

Developmental Squad (2) 10,000

BLINDSPORTS

Jason Smyth (Contract) €40,000

CEREBRAL PALSY SPORT

Derek Malone (Contract) €40,000

Gabriel Shelly (World Class) €20,000

Tom Leahy (World Class) €20,000

Michael McKillop (World Class) 20,000

Lisa Callaghan (World Class) 20,000

Garrett Jameson (International) €12,000

Johnny Cronin (International) 12,000

Roberta Connolly (International) €12,000

Eoin Cleare (International) 12,000

Trevor Dunne (International) 12,000

Men's Soccer Team (Int Team) 30,000

CYCLING

Ciaran Power (World Class) €12,000

David McCann (International) 12,000

Philip Deignan (International) 12,000

Jenny McCauley (International) 12,000

Mark Scanlon (International) 12,000

Nicholas Roche (International) 12,000

David O'Loughlin (International) €12,000

Developmental Squad (7) 35,000

Junior Squad (6) 18,000

BOXING

Darren Sutherland (World Class) €20,000

Kenneth Egan (World Class) 20,000

Roy Sheahan (International) 12,000

Conor Ahern (International) 12,000

Eric Donovan (International) 10,000

David Oliver Joyce (International) €12,000

Katie Taylor (World Class) 10,000

Developmental Squad (7) 35,000

Junior Squad (24 ) 72,000

FENCING

Siobhan Byrne (International) €12,000

ROWING

Richard Archibald (Contract) €30,000

Paul Griffin (Contract) 30,000

Tim Harnedy Irish (Contract) 30,000

Eugene Coakley (Contract) 30,000

Sinead Jennings Iri (World Class) €20,000

Heather Boyle (World Class) 20,000

Niall O'Toole (World Class) 20,000

Alan Martin (International) 12,000

Sean Jacob (International) 12,000

Sean Casey (International) 12,000

Cormac Folan (International) 12,000

Niamh Ni Cheallachair (International) €12,000

Developmental Squad (1) 5,000

Junior Squad (6) 18,000

WEIGHTLIFTING

Junior Squad (1) Junior Allocation €3,000

CANOEING

Eoin Rheinisch (World Class) €20,000

Brendan Maloney (International) €12,000

Eadaoin Ni Challarain (International) €6,000

Neil Fleming (International) 12,000

Helen Barnes Irish (International) 10,000

Neil Caffrey (International) 12,000

Developmental Squad (4) 16,000

Junior Squad (4) 12,000

HOCKEY

Women's Snr Team (Int Team) 30,000

Womens U18 Team (Developmental) €10,000

Mens U18 Team (Developmental Team) €10,000

SAILING

Aaron O'Grady (World Class) €20,000

Maurice O'Connell (World Class) €20,000

Ed Peel (World Class) 20,000

Sam Hunt (World Class) 20,000

Gerald Owens (World Class) 20,000

Russell McGovern (International) €12,000

Matthew McGovern (International) €12,000

Debbie Hanna I (International) 12,000

Ciara Peelo (International) 12,000

Developmental Squad (11) 55,000

Junior Squad (11) 33,000

TABLE TENNIS

Table Tennis Assoc. Junior Allocation 12,000

WHEELCHAIR SPORT

David Malone (Contract) €38,720

John McCarthy (Contract) 35,700

Garrett Culliton (World Class) 20,000

Rosemary Tallon (International) €12,000

Orla Barry (International) 12,000

Jamie Boyle (International) 12,000

Patrice Dockery (International) €12,000

Roy Guerin (International) 12,000

Claire Conway (International) 12,000

Kathleen Reynolds (International) €12,000

Developmental Squad (1) 5,000

Junior Squad (7) 21,000

JUDO Junior Squad (1) 3,000

SWIMMING

Julie Douglas (International) €4,000

Steven Manley (International) 12,000

Barry Murphy (International) 12,000

Developmental Squad (1) 5,000

Junior Squad (12) €36,000

TENNIS

Developmental Squad (3) €15,000

TRIATHLON

Bobby Behan (International) €12,000

Developmental Squad (3) 15,000