Mixed reaction to proposal for Meath Sports Bursary
A proposal to establish a county-funded sports bursary in Meath has received a mixed response from councillors.
Fine Gael councillor Sharon Tolan put forward the motion at the September meeting of Meath County Council, calling for an annual bursary scheme to support elite and high-performance athletes.
She said the programme would ease the financial pressures of training and competing at local, national, and international levels.
Cllr Tolan added the scheme would not target professional athletes but those who balance study and work alongside sporting commitments.
“Many of them have represented us with distinction, not only here at home but on the international stage. But behind the achievements lie huge personal and family sacrifices, both in time and in money,” she said.
The proposal was backed by Cllr Maria Murphy (FG), who noted that many families struggle to cover the rising costs of supporting young athletes.
However Independent Cllr Nick Killian pointed out that many high-level athletes already receive grants and suggested the term “emerging” might be more suitable than “elite.”
He also argued that more resources should be directed to grassroots sports through the county’s Sports Partnership.
Social Democrat Cllr Ronan Moore said he supported the idea in principle but called for greater clarity on eligibility criteria and funding sources.
In a written response, council officials said that Meath County Council already provides significant financial support to Meath Sports Partnership, as well as to numerous sporting bodies and initiatives. They also noted that Sports Ireland and other organisations offer bursaries and scholarships to athletes.
The council ultimately agreed to refer the motion to its Strategic Policy Committee for further discussion.