By Eoin Whyte, University of Limerick
The International Carding Scheme is undergoing massive changes in its criteria for the distribution of funding for Irish Athletes and the year 2013-14 was described as a” transition phase” by the Irish Sports Council. This followed the earlier revamp in 2010. The year 2010 was a watershed year for Irish athletics with massive investment taking place for the development athletes. Eighty-five athletes in total receiving funding in 2010, this can be compared to the mere 19 athletes who received funding the following year through the carding scheme. The number of athletes receiving funding was on the increase from 2008-2010, with 73 athletes funded in 2008, 81 in 2009 and 85 in 2010. By 2014, only 12 athletes were funded directly through this scheme.
Between 2008 and 2014 the Irish Sports Council gave out €2.6m in funding to athletics through the International Carding Scheme. This €2.6m was divided amongst 129 athletes: 64 female and 65 male.
The table below lists how much went to the top 11 athletes for the 2008-14 period. While 129 Irish athletes received funding under the scheme, a total of€1.34m has gone to these eleven athletes during the seven years. This is over fifty per cent of the total funding provided under the International Carding Scheme for Irish athletics during the period discussed. Only three athletes in the top eleven received consistent funding throughout 2008-14: O'Rourke, Heffernan and Britton. Sprint hurdler, Derval O'Rourke was the most highly funded athlete. Notably only one ‘field’ athlete, Deirdre Ryan, is in the top 10. The high jumper received no funding in the years 2010 and 2014.
Walkers comprise two of top three most funded athletes in Irish athletics with Ireland enjoying unprecedented success in the sport in recent years, most notably Robert Heffernan's 50k world championship gold in August 2013 and Olive Loughnane's silver in the 2009 World Championships.
Between 2008 and 2014 the Irish Sports Council gave out €2.6m in funding to athletics through the International Carding Scheme. This €2.6m was divided amongst 129 athletes: 64 female and 65 male.
The table below lists how much went to the top 11 athletes for the 2008-14 period. While 129 Irish athletes received funding under the scheme, a total of€1.34m has gone to these eleven athletes during the seven years. This is over fifty per cent of the total funding provided under the International Carding Scheme for Irish athletics during the period discussed. Only three athletes in the top eleven received consistent funding throughout 2008-14: O'Rourke, Heffernan and Britton. Sprint hurdler, Derval O'Rourke was the most highly funded athlete. Notably only one ‘field’ athlete, Deirdre Ryan, is in the top 10. The high jumper received no funding in the years 2010 and 2014.
Walkers comprise two of top three most funded athletes in Irish athletics with Ireland enjoying unprecedented success in the sport in recent years, most notably Robert Heffernan's 50k world championship gold in August 2013 and Olive Loughnane's silver in the 2009 World Championships.
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