The Irish government has set aside further funding to establish six new community sports hubs and invest in other participation initiatives.

A sum of €1.4m (£1.2m, US$1.6m) will be added to the €50m (£44m, US$56m) which has already been earmarked for sport development through the government’s funding partner Sport Ireland.

Just under a quarter of the new fund (€239,447, £210,607, US$267,944) will be used to launch the hubs – known as Community Sport and Physical Activity Hubs (CSPAH) – in Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Offaly and South Dublin.

A further €290,000 (£255,085, US$324,513) will be distributed between six national governing bodies (NGBs) – Canoeing Ireland, Irish Martial Arts Commission, Irish Orienteering Association, Irish Sailing Association, Irish Wheelchair Association and Mountaineering Ireland – for various participation programmes.

As part of the government’s National Physical Activity Plan schemes such as Get Ireland Cycling (€100,000, £87,955, US$111,905), Get Ireland Running (€150,000, £131,940, US$167,858), Get Ireland Swimming (€150,000) and Get Ireland Walking (€130,000, £114,348, US$145,476) will all receive extra funding.

Finally a pot of €350,000 (£307,864, US$391,668) will be shared between a number of NGBs, such as Badminton Ireland, Basketball Ireland, Gymnastics Ireland, Hockey Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland, Irish Rugby Football Union, Irish Squash, Rowing Ireland, Table Tennis Ireland, Tennis Ireland and Triathlon.

Youth Physical Activity Towards Health programmes – which aims to improve the physical activity proficiency for first year post-primary youth – secured €25,000 (£21,990, US$27,977) of that pot.

The extra funding was unveiled by minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross and minister of state for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan.

Kieran Mulvey, chair of Sport Ireland, said: “Following on from previous investment in CSPAHs we are already seeing the benefit to local communities and sports organisations. All of these initiatives funded will make it easier for people to get involved in and engage in a more active and healthier lifestyle.”