The plan "will be clear and unambiguous" and will aim to allow Ireland's athletes to build on their "enormous success" at the London 2012 to ensure further improvements come Rio 2016, it was explained.

Immediate steps will involve preparing for major Championships across a range of Paralympic disciplines in 2014 and 2015 to ensure the maximum number of qualification spots.

Ireland won 16 medals, including eight god, when they placed 19th on the medals table at London 2012, their best performance since Seoul 1988.

Sprinter Jason Smyth and middle-distance star Michael McKillop won two gold medals apiece on the track, and cyclist Mark Rohan also took two titles on the road, while there was one gold medal each for swimmers Bethany Firth and Darragh McDonald.

Ireland's athletes and swimmers enjoyed more gold medal success at their respective World Championships in 2013 and the aim will be maintaining that success over the next two seasons.

However with equestrian the only other sport to produce medals for Ireland at London 2012 another aim will be winning medals in other sports on the programme at Rio 2016.

Mark Rohan was another big star at London 2012 with two gold medals in road cycling events ©Getty Images


Consultations for the strategic plan will commence in January and it is expected that the it will be validated by the Board in March prior to a members vote at the Paralympics Ireland Annual General Meeting in April.

Consulting team Pinta has also been selected to implement the formation of the Plan.

Using their "extensive experience in strategic planning," Pinta will "facilitate consultations and distill all of the inputs into a concise strategy that will allow Paralympics Ireland to reach its future potential as an organisation," it was claimed.

This was something explained further by Paralympics Ireland chief executive Liam Harbison when he spoke at the launch of the strategic planning process.

"I'm looking forward to working together with the Pinta team and with all those participating in the process in developing a new and exciting future for Paralympics Ireland," he said.

"We have delivered on our last plan and are ready to draw up a new roadmap for success over the coming years to build on the huge success and growth of Irish Paralympic sport up to London 2012.

"The input of our member organisations, athletes, sports staff, volunteers, sponsors and other partners will be critical to this."

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