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
