Funding for Wicklow’s Local Sports Partnership Confirmed With New Role Created In 2025

Wicklow Minister Simon Harris has confirmed that funding will be made available in Wicklow to promote social inclusion and empower individuals through sport and physical activity.

Today, Minister Harris launched a new Government and European Programme to promote social inclusion, educational opportunities and employment through sport.

The new initiative titled “Sport 4 Empowerment” is backed by an €11million grant allocated to Sport Ireland, Ireland’s main sport development authority. This initiative is a new European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) programme. These programmes are dedicated to ensuring no one is left behind in terms of employment and education.

The programme has key objectives such as working to ensure equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation while also improving employability in communities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The funding will see the creation of a new Social Inclusion Sport Officer for Wicklow’s Local Sports Partnership (LSP) in 2025 which will help drive these objectives of social inclusivity.

Speaking today Minister Harris said “Sport has always been a huge catalyst for social inclusion and an equaliser when it comes to educational opportunities. The ‘Sport 4 Empowerment’ Programme by Sport Ireland aims to empower individuals through a range of activities that are set to improve employment opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“I’m also glad to announce that in 2025 funding will be made available for a new Social Inclusion Sport Officer position in Wicklow’s Local Sports Partnership which will help drive the objectives of the programme by reaching out to disadvantaged communities and will implementing a number of targeted and innovative initiatives to help tackle discrimination, poverty and social exclusion.”

By 2025, Sport Ireland aims to have an ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer across all 29 LSPs in their network and across the country.

The 'Sport 4 Empowerment' programme will pilot and implement a variety of targeted and innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing the wellbeing, education, and economic prospects of the participants. The programme will support individuals at risk of social exclusion and poverty including the following groups ethnic minorities, youth at risk, persons with disabilities, and persons from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Minister Harris concluded “I want to thank Sport Ireland for the role they play in our communities. Initiatives and programmes like these have such a positive impact and I will always be there to back them and make sure that the right funding is behind them to make it a success. I’m determined to see more innovative programmes come to fruition. They make our communities fairer more resilient and more inclusive.”

For more information about Sport Ireland and the 'Sport 4 Empowerment' programme, visit www.sportireland.ie.