Kilkenny parents ‘under serious financial pressure’ to support children playing sport
Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere spoke on the subject in the Dáil recently
Parents in County Kilkenny are “under serious financial pressure” to support their children playing sport, the Dáil has heard.
Carlow-Kilkenny Fianna Fáil TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere spoke on the subject during a recent ‘Questions on Policy or Legislation’ session.
Deputy Cleere said: “I want to raise a very practical measure that could support families and community sports.
“Will the Government consider introducing targeted tax relief for households and families on their memberships of sporting organisations?
“Many families in my constituency are under serious financial pressure to give their children the opportunity to be members and join multiple sporting organisations, whether it be soccer, hurling, camogie, athletics or swimming. The list goes on and on.
“If they want to play additional support such as tennis, golf, basketball, volleyball or cricket, there are additional specific membership costs for all of these.”
He went on to outline the impact that such tax relief would have on children’s ability to play sport.
“Providing a modest tax relief for membership of sporting organisations would help put money back in the pockets of individuals and families.
“Importantly, this measure would not only support families, but it would also strengthen local clubs by boosting participation and membership.
“It is a simple targeted initiative that would promote health, community engagement and well-being, and the sustainability of grassroots sports.
“It is an idea worth serious consideration in the context of budget 2027. I am looking for the Taoiseach's support on it.”
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin asked whether the relief would apply to all sporting organisations, to which Deputy Cleere said it would.
The Taoiseach continued: “I recall that about two years ago we looked seriously at tax relief for gym membership.
“As part of the budget preparations, I will discuss what suite of taxation measures we will adopt to try to alleviate pressures on people.
“There had also been tax relief in respect of philanthropic donations to clubs and so on, but that all sporting organisations would be covered by a tax relief is a new one. Some charge low enough fees; some charge high fees.”
He concluded by recognising the financial pressures facing families in allowing their children to play sport.
“I do accept that in the current climate, with fuel costs and everything else, there are a lot of pressures on people, and inflation is at elevated levels because of what happened following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It had been coming down before that war.”
Deputy Martin concluded by saying that the Government would examine any such proposal in the context of this year’s budget.