HORSE Sport Ireland will receive an extra €260,000 in funding from Sport Ireland in 2019, bringing the total funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to €1.56 million, it was announced today.

The national governing body (NGB) for equestrian sport will receive an allocation of €875,000 for 2019, representing a €100,000 increase on the 2018 figure. Horse Sport Ireland are fourth on the list of NGBs, behind Special Olympics Ireland (€1.2 million), Athletics Ireland (€950,000) and Swim Ireland (€910,000).

In addition, the High Performance programme at Horse Sport Ireland has been boosted by an extra €160,000, bringing its total to €690,000.

These increases see Horse Sport Ireland’s funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, through Sport Ireland, rise from €1.3 million in 2018 to €1.56 million this year.

Last August, HSI did receive an additional €175,000 in a seperate fund from Minister Shane Ross, which went towards the 2018 World Equestrian Games. They have not recieved any additional funding towards attending a major event this year.

The sport horse industry was left disappointed last October in Budget 2019 when the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine only increased their funding by €500,000 to €3 million.

Today’s announcement brings HSI’s total government funding to €4.56 million.

MORE ON THIS STORY & REACTION IN SATURDAY’S THE IRISH FIELD

See Sport Ireland's 2019 funding breakdown