Sports funding: Minister wants to compromise
Friday 3rd February 2012, 12:00PM GMT.
The Education Minister has said that a compromise is possible over the proposed funding cuts
A STATES proposal to slash travel grants for Jersey’s sports stars could be overturned, after the Education Minister indicated he was prepared to negotiate with the sports community.
Sports officials from across the Island erupted in howls of protest this week following the proposed 77 per cent cut in funding to the Sports Advisory Council.
The organisation, which received £176,000 last year but would only receive £38,000 for 2012 under the plan, hands out grants to teams and individuals competing or training away from the Island.
Education Minister Patrick Ryan released a statement yesterday to reassure Islanders that a compromise was on the cards.
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This was one of the nice things to have in the ‘boom’ years, but the ‘boom’ years are gone, probably for ever.
Money needs to be spent on health, road mending etc. Travel to the Uk for sport is a luxury, if you want to go fund yourself – that is what I do.
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Call me cynical.but…..plan to cut grants by 80% and then come back in a week with a cut of 25%…..who looks good!!!! but that does not happen in Jersey does it???
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What is the point of offering a 77 percent cut and then offering to compromise?
Cuts are proposed, there are the inevitable howls of protest and then they are withdrawn.
Is this part of the softening up procedure for the inevitable tax rises?
You would not let us cut anything so you have to pay more!
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£38 000 for a year is equal to 2 nights in the Radisson for the stats members.
I guess to get away they will have to run faster from now on.
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I think we all appreciate that this is an inherited mess form the last Minister, who was somewhat out his depth in most matters, not just swimming.
His ideas were generally to present a radical cut and then ‘compromise’ from that point. I do hope that the present Minister shows a bit more gumption and agrees to keep the funding the same for this year at least, before engaging with the organisations who contribute so much to the Sport, Education and Culture of this Island.
Should the Minister not have integrity, I do hope, that he at least has the decency not to send hollow good wishes to competing competitors or turn up at the airport for a photo opportunity when people do well on behalf of an Island who couldn’t give a flying ‘whatever’ about their development.
Perhaps we should scrap any form of subsidy to spud farmers, or even introduce a special spud farmer tax to make up the shortfall! See if that makes the old ‘minister’ squeal about short term planning and the devastating impact on his budget.
(Yes, that was a lower case ‘m’, and apologies to other spud farmers)
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Quite right too when we consider how much local sport contributes to the island, both interms of vistors to major events and booking fees to use states facilities. The real cost is less than one civil servent. As ever the policy is to cut services to the public rather than look at the infrastructure!
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why do people have to train away from the island????
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This smacks to me a little like politics , look I have inherited this huge problem £172,000 deficit not my fault but hey I think I can solve it am I not wonderful Andy Coulson would be proud or perhaps I am just too cynical.
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This is an opportunity to evaluate the results of your votes…..Patrick Ryan used to be a politician before …anyone remember his contribution then…? Deputy Reed of St Ouen was the sports education etc guy….promptly sacked from the job a week after re election….and anyone know what he has achieved for the betterment of his fellow islanders since…..? anyone getting that warm glow of satisfaction and reassurance that the Tax quids spent hiring these guys is well merited…?
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Hardly a priority is it funding sport, I’d rather money was soent on hospitals. Boom years are over, cut the cloth accordingly.
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It is not a lot of money but £200k goes a long way to providing support for the Island and developing our youngsters. Sports clubs provide discounted use of their facilities to states departments and schools. All this will mean is that the states end up being charged more in the long run when clubs and assocations start charging out at a proper market rate.
Better to leave the status quo and fund the gap by creating efficiencies in our extremely inefficient public services.
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