High performance athletes are to benefit from a cash injection for new state-of-the-art training equipment, it was announced today.
Eight governing bodies for athletes, cyclists, rowers, boxers, paralympians and sailors are to benefit from the €841,637 windfall.
The money will be spent on a new training boat for rowers, a power speed testing rig for boxers, track racing frames for cyclists and coaching boats for the high performance sailing squad.
Sports Minister John O'Donoghue announced the investment at a special ceremony to award new bonus payments to athletes who excelled on the international stage during the year.
Derval O'Rourke, Kenneth Egan, Jason Smyth and the rowing Lightweight Four crew were among the first to benefit from the performance incentive payments.
"Each athlete honoured today is ambitious and is working towards even greater achievements and we wish them great future success," said Minister O'Donoghue.
"It is also important to reflect on hard won success and celebrate marvellous achievements in a great year for Irish sport," he added.