GOVERNMENT FUNDING HAS been approved for a new €5 million headquarters for Special Olympics Ireland at the National Sports Campus.
The organisation says the move will result in ‘significant savings for the programme’.
CEO Matt English said it was a long-term solution to a range of on-going accommodation problems for Special Olympics.
The building, to be built at Abbottstown in Dublin, will provided a base to support programmes for over 9,000 athletes across Ireland.
“It is a fitting tribute to all our athletes with an intellectual disability and the volunteers who work with them that the headquarters of their organisation can take its rightful place alongside the other national governing bodies of sport on the island whose headquarters are located on the National Sports Campus”, English said.
The 2014 Special Olympics Ireland Games will take place in Limerick this June, part of the city’s designation as the National City of Culture 2014.
Organisers are expecting more than 4,000 participants and 70,000 spectators.
The Special Olympics is fantastic, My aunt does bowling in it and I couldn’t be prouder of her. The organisation does a lot and I’m delighted that they are getting this new infrastructure. Wish them the best of luck with it.
Let’s hope they don’t pay for it by taking more medical cards away
Tremendous news for a well run organisation that delivers a quality programme for some of the most disadvantaged people in our country. If you haven’t been involved with the organisation before, you should do so at some stage. I have had the pleasure of being a volunteer for the past 12 years and have enjoyed every minute.
The annual report on their website is hasn’t been updated since 2012… I don’t think public money should go to a organization that doesn’t publish updated and clear accounts. Not after the CRC.
Special Olympics AGM takes place this Saturday. Subject to approval of the Annual Report and adoption of the Financial Statements we will make the report available as usual to the General Public via our website.
Good, but I hope it will include a full breakdown of payments, pensions & expenses to Management & Board ? unlike the last time.
The Board works on a voluntary basis. Pensions are offered to staff on a matching contribution basis up to a maximum of 5%. No other benefits are granted. 6 people are paid over €70k p.a. Grant Thornton have recently conducted a review and salary cuts and redundancies will be implemented in the weeks ahead. It is a very sensitive time in the organisation. Currently all staff are working very hard with numerous volunteers to organise the Ireland Games which are held once every four years. 1,500 athletes will compete in13 different sports between 12th and 15th June with dreams of qualifying to represent Ireland at the World Games in Los Angeles next year. Special Olympics is approximately 33% funded by government. Today we have over 300 registered volunteers supporting the programme to each staff member which I believe represents excellent leverage and value to the tax payer. Thank you for your interest and support to Special Olympics.