By David Kelly
BUDGET CUTS will deal a massive blow to sports in Moyross, an FAI officer has warned.
FAI Development Officer for Limerick City Tommy Barrett said a reduction in the grant to the Irish Sports Council would have disastrous knock-on effects for the area.
Picture courtesy of http://www.inpho.ie
“A cut in funding will have a negative impact on the area. Kids learn about social integration and inclusion through sport. They also learn manners and discipline, as well as respecting other cultures. It will affect all the kids and there will be a negative impact of social behaviour, as kids won’t have the options to do stuff and play sport,” he said.
The Moyross Community Centre runs after school services, kids play pool and soccer and during the summer and spring we run late night soccer activities, he added.
“Sport is a great way of mixing people of all backgrounds. We hold blitz days each year and it is a great way for kids to be active and make friends. The sports development in Moyross is unique in that we are co-funded by the FAI and the Regeneration Agency,” he said.
Mr Barrett said that funding should not be cut because the service is a mainstream one that provides employment, keeps the kids active and thus away from hospital visits, and keeps kids away from the streets and engaging in anti-social behaviour.
“Facilities aren’t great at the minute, the base is flooded. We need more centres like this, we should have swimming pools and other pitches,” he said.
He said that the Government should not put a monetary value on sport, because its benefits far out way any negatives.
The money generated through sport saves a fortune in terms of health and crime, as well as providing employment nationwide, he said.
Limerick regeneration Community Rugby Officer George Guilfoyle, who also works in the Moyross area, said sporting activities provide kids with an outlet away from the street.
“Sport brings kids together and creates friendships. It’s a fact that kids who are provided with sports facilities and nurtured from a young age will continue playing sport into adulthood,” he said.
Mr Guilfoyle helps run activities in the community centre. He works with primary and secondary schools in developing pupil’s sporting ability and the social aspects of sport.
“We work with St Mary’s and Corpus Christi National School’s in the locality, as well as St Nessan’s. We run tag rugby activities, a Saturday club, Ceim ar Ceim groups, as well as local competitions and community games,” he said.
He reiterated Mr Barrett’s claims that Moyross would suffer if cuts are made in next week’s budget.
“If you cut any budget there will be knock-on effects. The bigger picture is everyone suffers. Health will suffer and crime may increase as kids are bored. An hour and a half in here is an hour and a half less on the street.
“Since I became involved here in Moyross, after eight years of experience in Clare, I have seen interest from kids who are seven to kids who are 10 and 13. We don’t make kids play rugby, we encourage the development of other codes and multi-sports, so there is something for everybody,” he added.
Mr Guilfoyle said that the continuation of these activities is vital to children’s development and he urged more locals to get involved.
“The next big event is a second hand gear collection on the dates of the upcoming Munster matches vs. Connacht, Northampton and Glasgow Warriors,” he said.
Their comments follow the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs discussion entitled Funding of Irish Sport: Discussion with Federation of Irish Sports earlier this month.
The committee heard from members of the GAA, IRFU, FAI, Olympic Council of Ireland, Cumann Camogaiochta na Gael, Special Olympics Ireland and the Paralympic Council of Ireland.
They were highly critical of the McCarthy report’s recommendations to cut funding to the Irish Sports Council by €18 million, and the discontinuation of Sports Campus Ireland, saving €2 million. They were also adamant that sports remains a department and that its functions are not transferred to other bodies and departments.
GAA Director General Paraic Duffy said that more children are playing hurling in Ireland than at any time in the history of the state. He said that further cuts would cause the playing of our native games to diminish.
IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne cited a number of ERSI reports which suggested “the State and the public are getting a very good deal from sport”. He added that sport was responsible for economic and social dividends as well as Ireland’s positive image.
“Rugby alone...is providing an economic impact to the State of approximately €300 million per year,” he said.
FAI Chief Executive John Delaney said that the work done in Moyross is tremendous.
“This helps to develop family relationships, creates a new community of volunteers and gives great self-esteem to both young and old,” he said.
The McCarthy report also recommends The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be closed down, saving €151 million. This crippled with a reduction of €44 million in funding available for community development projects could also spell the end of the Moyross Community Centre, Youth Worker Eugene Kiely has warned.
ENDS
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