More than €5m in Dormant Accounts Funding announced for National Governing Bodies of sport
- Published on: 29 December 2025
- Last updated on: 29 December 2025
More than €5m in Dormant Accounts Funding is to be awarded to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sport, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and Sport Ireland are pleased to announce.
The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and the Minister for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue, have welcomed the investment of €5.16m, which will support a wide array of exceptional projects across the country.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan, said:
“This Dormant Accounts Fund allocation will allow our sporting bodies to sustain the important work they do in communities throughout Ireland, supporting inclusion for those experiencing disadvantage or living with disabilities, while also helping to boost participation in sport and physical activity.
This funding reinforces the important principle that sport and physical activity are fundamental rights and should be open to everyone, everywhere. This funding will help empower NGBs to do more to reach those who are economically or socially disadvantaged, educationally disadvantaged or people with a disability.”
The Dormant Accounts Funding allows unclaimed funds from accounts in credit institutions in Ireland to be utilised for projects focused on overcoming the barriers and challenges to participation in sport for those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or those affected by a disability.
Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue, said:
“While sport is a powerful driver of social inclusion, there remains important work to do to ensure people facing socio-economic barriers or living with disabilities are fully supported.
As we plan for 2026, continued support for the vital work of our National Governing Bodies of Sport is imperative - particularly their efforts to make sports more inclusive and accessible for disadvantaged communities and people with a disability. This significant investment is focused on reducing inequalities and ensuring that people from every background have the opportunity to live active, healthy lives.”
The areas of focus for Dormant Account Funding 2025 include disability supports, NGB equality, diversity & inclusion, and volunteer supports.
There is a focus on disability sports funding under three schemes - Disability Capital Support, Disability Programmes, and Disability Training & Education Fund – to a total of €2m.
These schemes have been put in place to initiate, advance or accelerate local disability initiatives to support the Sport Ireland Policy on Participation in Sport for People with Disabilities, National Sports Policy and National Physical Activity Plan.
The Minister of State, Jerry Buttimer T.D, for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the department that oversees the Dormant Account Fund, noted:
“The Dormant Accounts Fund has continually aided the most vulnerable in society. I am particularly pleased to see funding for these sports measures that will benefit people across the country”
Sport Ireland Chairperson John Foley said:
“We welcome this generous investment, which reflects a measured approach to tackling barriers to participation. It will help ensure opportunities for those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged or living with a disability.
“Sport Ireland and its partners act as guardians of this funding, with a clear responsibility for transparency and accountability. Every Euro must deliver real impact - empowering communities, promoting inclusion, and creating fair access to sport. Through careful oversight, this initiative will leave a legacy of equality and opportunity.”
Dr Úna May, CEO of Sport Ireland, said:
“The Government has already significantly increased investment in disability inclusion in sport in recent years. This important Dormant Accounts Funding will allow NGBs to do even more for people with disabilities and those facing socio-economic or educational barriers to participation.
Sport Ireland is committed to taking a leadership role and fostering collaboration within the sport sector to ensure our National Sports Policy goals are met.”
Sport Ireland will invest €1.5m in the National Governing Body (NGB) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Fund. This fund will support NGBs in delivering projects that address barriers to participation for individuals from diverse communities, regardless of socio-economic background, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
Recognising the invaluable contributions of volunteers in Irish sport, funding is allocated to provide volunteer supports aligned with the key actions of the Volunteering in Sport Policy.
Funding will be allocated to projects that empower volunteers, including youth leadership training, coaching and development programmes and targeted training for volunteers who are from or who work in disadvantaged areas and/or with people with disabilities.
Other areas of focus include Community Sports and Physical Activity hubs which provide local, accessible opportunities for physical activity in disadvantaged areas and Her Moves, which supports the development of initiatives designed to reduce dropout rates in sport and physical activity among adolescent girls.
Funding will also be provided to Get Ireland Active, an online public website and stakeholder hub providing comprehensive information on all sport and recreation facilities across Ireland. It aims to increase physical activity levels and enhance the planning, funding, and management of sport and recreation amenities nationwide.
Notes For Editors:
About the Dormant Accounts Fund
The Dormant Accounts Fund enables unclaimed funds from accounts in credit institutions in Ireland to be used to support the development of persons who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or those affected by a disability, within the meaning of the Equal Status Act.
About Sport Ireland
Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland. This includes participation in sport, high performance sport, anti-doping, coaching and the development of the Sport Ireland Campus
Breakdown of 2025 Allocations available below:
|
2025 NGB Dormant Accounts Fund Scheme |
Recommended Allocation |
|
NGB Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Fund |
€1,500,000 |
|
Disability Training & Education Fund |
€250,000 |
|
Disability Capital Support |
€1,235,000 |
|
Disability Programmes |
€515,000 |
|
NGB Volunteer Supports Fund |
€780,000 |
|
NGB Her Moves Fund |
€100,000 |
|
Get Ireland Walking/Swimming/Cycling/Running Fund |
€500,000 |
|
NGB Community Sports & Physical Activity Hub Fund |
€132,000 |
|
Get Ireland Active |
€150,000 |
|
TOTAL |
€5,162,000 |