WHAT  IS  THE  IRISH  SPORTS  COUNCIL?                                    In 1999 the Irish Sports Council (ISC) was established on a statuary basis. Its main role is to act as the development agency for sport in Ireland.In support of this role it carries out a variety of activities, including:

1. Funding of sports bodies and individual sportspersons

2. Advising the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, his Department and other government departments in relation to sports policy issues.

3. Providing information in relation to all aspects of sport.

4. Advocating for sport.

5. Developing programmes to support and assist sports organisations and their staff and volunteers.

6. Implementation of a comprehensive anti-doping programme, including testing, education and research ensuring universal international compliance with the "World Anti Doping Code".

7. Facilitation and direct provision of training and support services to sports organisations.

8. Creating partnerships and alliances among organisations involved in sports promotion, development and administration.

9. Promoting equality and diversity for all by implementing equality legislation and eliminating all barriers to service access for those experiencing poverty, social exclusion, people with disabilities and those facing geographic barrier.

One of the main services of the Council is the provision of core and programme funding to sports bodies, and performance based funding to individual sportspersons. Core funding is used primarily to assist and support the organisational structures and systems essential for the effective administration and development of sport. Programme funding is used to promote specific and targeted initiatives aimed, for example, at increasing participation or developing excellence in sporting performance. Funding is provided to individual sportspersons through the Council's International Carding Scheme and the Team Ireland Golf Trust scheme.

WHY  APPLY  TO  THE  ISC?                                                              The Irish Homing Union wants the Irish Sports Council to recognise it as the National Governing Body (NGB) of the sport of pigeon racing in Ireland

WHY  BE RECOGNISED AS  AN  NGB?                                             An organisation seeking ISC assistance (financial or otherwise) must be denoted by the ISC as a recognised Governing Body of Sport (NGB). In order to gain recognition, the organisation must meet certain criteria laid down by the ISC.

WHAT  ARE  THE  ISC  CRITERIA?                                                Under section 8 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, the ISC is required to establish criteria, terms and conditions for the provision of assistance to Governing Bodies of Sport. The current criteria are:

1. Its core activity (sport) must come within the definitions of recreational or competitive sport as set out in the act;

   "Competitive sport means all forms of physical activity which, through organised competition, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and at obtaining improved results in competition at all levels.

"Recreational sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or regular participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being and at forming social relationships."

2. Its aims and objectives must be focused on developing and regulating its sport.

3. It must be the sole organisation regulating and developing the sport in Ireland.

4. It must be affiliated to the recognised internationat body.

5. It must (a) be established at least three years, (b) have a written constitution votes by members, (c) provide for democratic elections, (d) have audited accounts (e) demonstrate financial and management accountability.

6. It must comply with ISC's Anti-Doping Programme.

7. It must have a policy on Good Practice for Children in Sport.

8. It must have significant fee paying membership, wide geographical spread, organise competitions.

Having achieved and maintained NGB recognised status from the ISC, an organisation is eligible for ISC core funding if it meets the following requirements.

1. It must be developing or have developed a strategic plan in line with ISC guidelines.

2. It must have affiliated clubs in at least 8 counties.

3. It must have a minimum annual income from its membership and/or other sources to meet at least 50% of the administration expenditure.

It must have agreed a coaching plan and verified its intention to become actively involved in the National Coaching Development Programme in partnership with the National Coaching and training centre.

FOR  WHAT  IS  CORE  FUNDING  AVAILABLE?

   1.   Administration

   2.   Strategic Planning.

   3.   Code of ethics implementation

   4.   Anti-doping implementation.

   5.   National Coaching Development Programme.

   6.   Sports equipment.

   7.   IT equipment.

   8.   Competitions.

WHY  DID  THE  IHU  APPLICATION  FAIL?

 .The Irish Homing Union made application  on 27th  March, 2007, and received the official response on 17th October, 2007.  The Council established a Committee to consider and decide on our application. It decided that the application does not comply with a number of criteria (see  ISC Criteria above)

CRITERION  1                                                                                                                                                                      The activities of the Irish Homing Union could not be defined as a sport. The Committee has previously considered the issue of the lack of recognition and support for organisations promoting and developing more sedentary recreational activities such as chess, bridge, kennel club, etc. ...... such organisations can have large membership and playing bases and therefore generate significant levels od social capital....

CRITERION  4                                                                                                                                                                      The Committee is aware that the IHU agreed to apply to the Federation Colombophile Internationale for membership. However, to date, the Irish Sports Council has not received formal communication from the Irish Homing Pigeon Union to state that the organisation is affiliated.

CRITERION 5                                                                                                                                                                       The Committee stated that the accounts submitted were not audited.  However, the Finance Manager of the ISC explained that an organisation of this size did not warrant their accounts being audited. An Accountant's Report would suffice.

CRITERION 6                                                                                                                                                                       The organisation must be WADA compliant as the World Code stipulates that any sport that includes animals in competition, the International Federation for the sport shall establish and implement anti-doping rules for animals included in that sport (Article 16 of the WADA Code) This may be an issue for the Federation Colombophile Internationale.

CRITERION  8                                                                                                                                                                      The Committee had concerns in relation to the lack of finance generated from membership fees ....... which is insufficient in the sustainable development of the organisation.

THE  NEXT  COURSE  OF  ACTION?

Even though we failed under five criteria, four of those do not present a major obsticle - they can in fact, easily be rectified. The main obsticle is the first listed  - getting pigeon racing recognised as a sport under the terms of reference of the ISC.

The ISC Customer Charter does point out that we are entitled to appeal.

We can re-apply - the ISC states that applications for eligibility may only be submitted once every twelve months.