Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Preparations for Paris 2024 are progressing positively. Team Ireland is now entering the final period of qualification for several sports and Ireland is tracking towards a team size exceeding 120 athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games and 30 athletes in the 2024 Paralympic Games. The qualification of three teams in men’s and women’s rugby sevens and also in men’s hockey for the Olympic Games is a significant development for Irish sport and reflects the impact of the Government's record level of investment in High Performance Sport.

Sport Ireland is collaborating closely with the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) and Paralympics Ireland who will lead Team Ireland to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, respectively. For the Paris Cycle, 2021-2024, the Government is providing investment of approximately €89 million towards High Performance Sport. This investment includes High Performance Programme Funding to National Governing Bodies; direct athlete investment; Impact Funding which targets new and innovative performance opportunities; High Performance Coaching supports; and world-class services through the Sport Ireland Institute.

From 2021-2024, Sport Ireland will have invested €3,245,000 in the OFI which includes an allocation of €900,000 to support the OFI with costs associated with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. €2,813,000 is being provided to Paralympics Ireland over the same period, including €800,000 specifically for the 2024 Paralympic Games.

The Sport Ireland Campus is home to many sports that will compete in Paris 2024 including swimming, boxing, hockey, rugby sevens and gymnastics. The facilities at the Sport Ireland Campus are on par with the best in the world and have provided athletes with an opportunity to prepare for Paris 2024 in a home environment with proximity to Paris.

With the benefit of all of these considerable supports from the Government, I am confident that Team Ireland's participation in the Paris Games will be a successful one.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland have also developed a partnership with the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, which will provide direct support for athlete experience and transition following competition. The setting will also provide opportunities to incorporate a cultural and promotional strand to enhance the reputation of Ireland internationally through arts and culture and to recognise the significance of the Games as marking the centenary of Ireland’s first independent participation.