The Government has allocated €120,000 this year for Ireland's premier stage races, Rás Tailteann and Rás na mBan. It is the first time that both races have received the same funding and the monies available for the 2024 editions of both races represents a significant increase on previous years.
While the precise sums allocated to the events were not disclosed when the funding announcement was made earlier this year, the Government has now been more forthcoming.
It has revealed the precise sums as part of its defence of discontinuing the effort to secure a Tour de France start in Ireland, insisting that it was still supporting Irish cycling by funding Rás na mBan and Rás Tailteann this year.
Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Thomas Byrne TD said in reply to a Dáil question that the Irish Government had discontinued the North-South joint bid for the Tour last year due to issues in the North.
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He said the Government was informed by the "Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland that, due to funding pressures, it had decided to cease its work on the proposed joint bid".
"Should the opportunity arise again to consider a bid to host the Grand Départ, the experience gained in the process outlined above will be of use to any such future consideration," Byrne said.
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"The recent restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive opens up the possibility of considering a joint-hosting proposal at a point in the future.
In the wider context of support for cycling increased funding of €120,000 has been provided for his year’s Rás Tailteann and Rás na mBan.
"This increased level of funding was provided on an equal basis of €60,000 to both the men’s and women’s races for the first time, will help ensure that Ireland’s premier stage races for both men and women are delivered to the highest standard."
The extra money, which has been made available for this year’s editions of the races, has been allocated by the Department of Sport via Sport Ireland, with both races receiving the same level of funding for the first time.
Cycling Ireland in January welcomed the boost in funding for both Rás Tailteann and Rás na mBan, thanking Minister for Sport Catherine Martin TD, adding the extra funds would ensure both races would go ahead this year.
Rás Tailteann will take place from May 22nd to 26th while Rás na mBan is set to take place from September 4th to 8th.
