- Laois Sports Partnership will receive €444,047 in core funding in 2026
- This funding will help Laois Sports Partnership continue work with people across Laois who face the greatest barriers to taking part in sport and physical activity
Laois Sports Partnership welcome €444,047 in core funding which supports the everyday work happening locally, creating welcoming spaces to be active and helping people feel connected through sport. It forms part of a wider €12.66 million investment in Local Sports Partnerships nationwide, within a record €33.36 million core funding package for Irish sport.
Investment in Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) has increased by 5.9% compared to 2025, with a total investment of €12.66 million being allocated across the 29 LSPs.
Announced today by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue, the funding is the highest ever level of Core investment in sport and represents a 6.5% increase on 2025 levels and an 87.4% increase on the €17.8 million investment in 2018, when the National Sports Policy was published.
Sport Ireland, CEO, Dr Úna May said:
“We are delighted by this generous Government investment. It’s a record level of investment and really does show just how strong the Government commitment is to developing a robust sport sector. In making investment decisions, Sport Ireland looks at the full impact of each sport – its national significance, the strength and ambition of its programmes, and the quality of its governance and operations. We place a strong emphasis on participation, membership, volunteerism and the social value sport brings to communities across the country. Above all, we are committed to ensuring a vibrant and diverse sporting landscape, so that people of all ages and backgrounds have access to a wide range of sporting opportunities.”
Laois Sports Partnership, CEO, Caroline Myers welcomed the funding saying:
“We warmly welcome this increased Core funding allocation of €444,047 for Laois Sports Partnership. This investment will significantly strengthen our ability to plan and deliver high-quality sport and physical activity opportunities across the county. It provides vital stability for our team and allows us to continue expanding inclusive programmes that support women and girls, people with disabilities, older adults and those facing socio-economic barriers. We are grateful to the Government, Sport Ireland and the Department for their continued commitment to Local Sports Partnerships and to empowering communities to be active, healthy and connected.”
2026 marks the first year of Sport Ireland’s 3-year multi-annual funding model, a transformative development that will support improved planning, workforce stability and more strategic use of resources within sports organisations.
The 2026 funding allocation reflects a 185% increase for Laois Sports Partnership compared with Core Grant funding in 2018.