The International Carding Scheme was introduced in 1998 to provide a range of supports to assist Ireland's most talented sportspersons realise their potential to perform successfully at the highest international level. This scheme replaced the Outstanding Sportspersons Grant Scheme operated by the Department of Education between 1986 and 1997. The Carding Scheme is overseen by the Irish Sports Council.

In addition to providing financial support to those players/athletes who need assistance to meet necessary international competition and training expenses, not otherwise covered through their relevant National Governing Body of Sport (NGB), the Carding Scheme provides non-financial supports, as set out later, ranging from sports specialist advice on physiology, nutrition etc., to medical support. Ireland's most talented international players and athletes, including junior and developing talent, have access, free of charge, to a holistic support system, gearing to helping them realise their full potential.

The scheme is underpinned by a drugs free philosophy and complements, and supplements the new revised system of support for NGBs which emphasises assistance for coach development; international competition programmes; and training for such competitions. The objective of the scheme will be to nurture emerging talent and to assist a higher percentage of international class Irish players/athletes to become world class and to reach more European, world and Olympic finals, thereby increasing the chances of success in such events.

The scheme is targeted at four major stages of development - Junior, Developmental, International and World Class. By concentrating on these categories, the new system will set up a clear pathway from junior to international, and on to world class performance.

A range of services is available to carded players and athletes participating in the PACE scheme. These services will be supplementary to coaching, training and competition support provided through their NGBs as part of their international training and competition programmes. The development and delivery of services is co-ordinated by the National Coaching and Training Centre. Services available include:

Financial assistance will be provided to help players/athletes to meet other expenses related to international competition and training costs not otherwise covered by the Carding Scheme or available through the NGB.

Participants in the Carding Scheme will be bound by conditions of award which will include:

• qualifying players/athletes must formally sign an agreement to accept the Scheme's terms and conditions before they may receive any financial support or gain access to the relevant services;
• submission of a yearly training and competition plan to the relevant NGB; and reporting to the NGB on performances at year-end. The NGB and the player/athlete have a responsibility to ensure that performance records, maintained on the NCTC database, are updated at least twice yearly;
• Participation in the national championships other than in exceptional circumstances, and in at least one selected international event, to be agreed with the NGB;
• Agreement, if required, to publicly represent the NGB and/or Irish sporting interests through the media and through a small number of public appearances;
• subscribing to anti-doping policies in general, and abiding by a drugs-free philosophy in both training and competition;
• participating in the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Programme , and undertaking, if required, any non-urine based anti-doping techniques where international standards and protocols are agreed by their relevant International Federation;
• submission, on request, to the relevant NGB at year-end of details of eligible expenditure, with appropriate vouchers. Any player/athlete who fails to make and return the requisite report will not be considered for support under the next year's Scheme;
• maintaining eligibility status to compete for the National Governing Body through which funding under the Carding Scheme was granted;

Players/athletes may, via their NGB, appeal the outcome of their carding application to the Irish Sports Council. Such appeals will be adjudicated by a Review Group. Appeals must be made on an official appeal form which will be made available to the NGBs.

Criteria for the award of cards
In the context of the International Carding Scheme 
for Players and Athletes
2008

Qualifying Criteria for the International Carding Scheme 

Performance Incentive Payments

• Contracted – Medal in World or Olympic Games

• World Class –Win in a UCI Protour event

• International - Winner of UCI 1.2 event or top 3 European Championships U23

• Developmental – Winner in a UCI 2.2 or 1.2 event

 Performance Incentive Payments

• Contracted – Medal in World or Olympic Games

• World Class – Winner of a TT in a UCI Protour event

• International – Winner of UCI 2.2 or 1.2 event

• Developmental – Top 6 in a UCI 2.2 or 1.2 event

Performance Incentive Payments

• Contracted - Medal in World or Olympic Games

• World Class - Winner of a World Cup event or medal at the European Championships

• International - Top 10 World Cup Event

• Development - Top 20 World & European Championship

Notes: For Blind & Visually Impaired Paralympic cycling disciplines

More information on ISC Carding can be found on the ISC website