Paralympics Ireland are looking to bring a team of 40 to this summer's Paralympics and are looking to win at least five medals, with their hopes rested on the likes of double Beijing 2008 sprint champion Jason Smyth (pictured below).

The funding announcement is a huge boost and in addition to the €700,000 (£562,590/$879,900) for the High Performance Plan, individual athletes will receive €625,000 (£502,375/$785,800) in grants through the International Carding Scheme.

In April, the Council approved the annual core grant of €300,000 (£241,000/$377,000) to Paralympics Ireland, bringing a total investment of €1,625,000 (£1,306,175/$2,052,132) for the year.

"The Irish Sports Council funding is essential if we are to achieve our targets," said Paralympics Ireland President Jimmy Gradwell (pictured above, far right).

"We know the team has the talent to win medals but it is about performing on the day in the most competitive arena that the athletes will ever face; we have to get to London fit and primed and hope that all the preparation will bring its reward."

There are three remaining camps for the team in advance of London, including the first ever Paralympics Ireland Camp in Northern Ireland at the end of June, the final Renault Ireland Team 2012 Training Camp in Limerick in August and the ISC Pre Games Holding Camp in Portugal.


The selection process will conclude in June following the final opportunities for Irish athletes to qualify for the Games up to June 10 while the team will be announced on June 28.

"Paralympic sport is incredibly competitive and in order to succeed you need talented athletes and coaches supported by significant investment," said Irish Sports Council chief executive and Olympic medallist John Treacy (pictured above, back row, second left).

"The whole country will get behind the team and everyone is looking forward to the Games.

"It is essential that everything is done in order to allow the athletes perform to their best in London.

"The Paralympic team has always been a source of pride to Ireland and I am sure London 2012 will be the same."

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