Research
"The Irish Sports Council recognises the importance of research to understanding the sports sector in Ireland, to informing policy both in sport and in broader areas such as health, education and social policy, and as an instrument for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the State's investment in sport."
In pursuit of these objectives the Council has engaged in a range of activities over the past number of years including:
- Developing a strong partnership with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which has given rise to a number of key policy research reports referenced below;
- Working with 3rd level research institutions on specific research projects dealing particularly with issues around participation in sport and physical activity;
- Established the Irish Sports Monitor as an instrument for measuring and monitoring adult participation in sport and physical activity and the issues affecting that participation;
- Working with the Central Statistics Office on a number of statistical enquiries into sport and physical activity;
- Facilitating the hosting of research seminars, workshops and conferences on sport and physical activity; and
- Sponsoring the establishment of the CARA Centre for Adapted Physical Activity in the Institute of Technology Tralee to provide leadership, information and training in relation to sport and physical activity for people with disabilities in Ireland.
As to the future the Council will continue to work on the above areas to deepen and broaden the understanding of key policy issues relating to sport and physical activity. It will also will seek to engage more actively with National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships in its research work; it will seek to develop greater collaboration with agencies commissioning research and among institutions delivering research; it will develop international links in relation to its research work; and it will work to facilitate capacity building within relevant 3rd level institutions carrying out research on sport and physical activity.