The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) has submitted a budget proposal to the Government “seeking modernised tax measures” to improve Irish athletes’ prospects of reaching and performing at the elite level.
In a statement, the OFI’s Athletes Commission said: “Despite Ireland’s growing success on the world stage, many high-performance athletes earn little or no income from their sport.
“As a result, they cannot access existing tax supports such as the Sportspersons Relief, which was designed in 2002 for a small number of professional athletes in 13 sports. The Athletes’ Commission is calling for these measures to be updated to reflect today’s high-performance system.”
They outlined two key recommendations.
Firstly, to align Olympic and Sport Ireland athletes with the Artists Exemption, to create a €50,000 annual tax credit that athletes can use during or after their sporting careers.
And secondly to update the Sportspersons Relief (a repayment of tax for retired sportspeople) so that all Olympic sports governed by recognised National Governing Bodies qualify. Currently the tax relief applies to athletes’ earnings directly from participation in the sport only (eg wages or prize money). Any income earned from personal appearances, sponsorship or interviews does not qualify.
Aifric Keogh, chair of the Athletes’ Commission, said: “Every week, Irish Olympic athletes represent the entire country on the world stage and bring moments of priceless national pride and social cohesion.
“Government and Sport Ireland support helps this to happen. However, a significant number of athletes are still lost to the system because they can’t afford the direct and opportunity costs of placing their lives on hold to represent us all.
“A measure like this will give tangible help to the young men and women who represent Ireland internationally and will also be another step on the pathway to unlocking Ireland’s full sporting potential.”
Peter Sherrard, the Olympic Federation of Ireland CEO, added: “As an organisation, we see first‑hand the sacrifices made by athletes and their families. There is often a perception that high-performance athletes earn significant money, but the reality for most is very different.
“Many juggle part‑time work, rely on family support, or face real financial strain while training full‑time for Ireland.
“The performances and spirit of our athletes lift the entire country. Supporting the Athletes’ Commission’s request is not only the right thing to do, it is also essential if we want to sustain and grow Ireland’s success in high-performance sport.”