Irish sport has been given a huge shot in the arm with news of a €70million funding package from the Government. 

It follows the announcement from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that lockdown restrictions associated with sport will be easing ahead of time.

Sport in Ireland - including contact training - can resume on June 29.

Funding of up to €40million will be made available to the GAA, the FAI and the IRFU.

A Resilience Fund of €10million has been established to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has also confirmed a Sports Club Resilience Fund of up to €15million to support clubs.

The Government say, "clubs will be required to demonstrate that they are in need of assistance to avoid closing."

And €5million has been set aside for a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund.

News of the funding comes in the same week that the FAI have been locked in tortuous talks with SSE Airtricity Premier Division clubs.

They've been trying to put together a financial package that would allow top flight clubs to return to play in August.

The IRFU have warned of a €20million black hole in their books should their autumn calendar end up blank.

The Government stipulate that, "Funding will be allocated on a case-by-case basis and will be a direct response to each NGB’s specific needs with regard to solvency and continued existence."

Minister for Sport, Shane Ross said on Friday evening, "While the scale of this package may seem extraordinarily large, it merely reflects the enormity of the challenges being faced by our sporting bodies.

"This new funding package will assist our National Governing Bodies of Sport and sports clubs as they prepare to restart their sports under the Government roadmap.

"Sporting organisations and clubs are hugely important for the social fabric of every community in the country and we want to ensure that the sector recovers as strongly as possible from the current crisis.

"The Roadmap accelerations and funding being announced today will ensure the survival of our vibrant sport sector, particularly the network of clubs throughout the country.

"My officials will now engage with Sport Ireland to design new grant schemes, which will be administered by Sport Ireland."