Charlie McConalogue
Donegal · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There are indications that the opt-out mechanism for the text and data mining exception is not working well in practice. Evidence gathered by the Danish Presidency showed that some activity is taking place on the licensing of works for AI, but that it is uneven across member states and subsectors of the creative sector.”
“The proposal involved the development of grass pitches, an Astroturf facility, flood-lighting and dressing rooms. The Football Association of Ireland wrote to my Department in 2023 stating that it no longer intended to proceed with the LSSIF-funded centre of excellence in Glanmire.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels.”
“This is Ireland's first national strategy for diabetes and it sets out recommendations for action in relation to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and paediatric diabetes. The strategy marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland and represents the development of a unified approach to its delivery.”
“It is anticipated that the final business case will be submitted shortly to my Department. In relation to the site in Glanmire, my Department has been informed that the property has now been leased to Riverstown Football Club by Cork County Council.”
“The structure of that payment, which was agreed between An Post and the postmasters, is designed to maintain and strengthen our post office network and to keep it sustainable, taking into account the number of post offices in an area, the distance to the next nearest post office and the rural nature versus the population base that it migh…”
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“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle and everyone in the House for their contributions and their work in communities to support clubs within their respective constituencies.”
“I assure Deputies I look forward to working with all of them here in relation to the next community sports facilities fund, which will be opening this summer and which we hope to have concluded by the end of this year to work to support clubs throughout the country in football, but also through all sports. We all appreciate the value of sport of all types in our lives, and wish to support that through that fund over the course of the year ahead. I thank all of the Deputies for taking time to participate in this debate. The fact it has been three and a half hours and so many have contributed shows the importance of sport to our national Parliament. This has been a very worthwhile and valuable use of our national Parliament's time.”
“A really good development and something we look to support is the development of a third tier in the League of Ireland. I am glad to see three clubs from my own county, Cockhill Celtic in Buncrana and Letterkenny Rovers and Bonagee United in Letterkenny, two in Letterkenny, being among the 15 nationally. Many Deputies mentioned their own clubs which are going to be part of that third tier as well. It is an opportunity to see our league grow. It is all going to be underpinned by us working collectively to support the work at grassroots level and to make sure everyone at local level has that opportunity to participate in sport.”
“We are seeing a renaissance and real momentum behind football within the country. We have all spoken about how that has been very much led by, and the great energy we get from, our national teams and the escapades and achievements recently. We are also seeing that come through in the League of Ireland, and that is something we want to support and underpin and which we are underpinning through the development and investment we are putting into the academies. That is something we are seeing real progress in over the course of this year. It is something we want to continue to invest in and develop, because it is going to give our young people the capacity to be able to be the best and develop into the best players they can be, and also to see our national league be very much strengthened through those players coming through.”
“We all know there is pressure because the increase in participation we are seeing across all sports and indeed, in relation to football, is putting pressure on facilities. Where we build those extra facilities, they will be used. They will not be idle; they are very much needed. I very much take the feedback from many across the floor tonight on the importance of all-weather surfaces and prioritising them within the community sports facilities fund. The past three and a half hours, and I have listened very carefully to everyone, has been a really good opportunity to get a sense from people who are very much involved in their local communities and clubs of what the key priorities are, and how best we as a Government can work to support their needs through Government investment.”
“A few contributors outlined how over the past six years, in the previous three rounds of sports capital, that six years ago we invested €70 million in the community sports facilities round, four years ago it was €170 million and in the most recent round in 2024, it was €270 million, seeing more than 3,000 clubs and projects being supported through grants. That is something we now need to continue, and we will continue through the community sports facilities fund which we will be launching this year. That is something that can make a real impact and continue the journey that we are seeing at grassroots level in terms of providing the facilities and supporting the work of volunteers.”
“It also speaks to the fact that we are on a journey that continues, and one that we as public representatives and particularly as a Government must make sure we are supporting ever more strongly, because while our clubs are very much based on the commitment and dedication of volunteers who make such an impact on the lives of those they support and train and the communities in which they are involved, it is really important that we, from a Government and State point of view, support that through investment in facilities and equipment. We have seen a very significant increase in investment in facilities over the years and decades, and we see it in our local communities. That is something we have continued to prioritise and develop very strongly in recent years.”
“That tournament was played on a pitch which had a slant on it in Glenealy. There were no dressing rooms at that stage but there was great participation and enjoyment. As an example of how we have seen football grow and develop over that period of time, this past Saturday in Glenview Park, which is now the football pitch in Glenealy and which does have a dressing room and a clubhouse, the under-16 girls won the SFAI under-16 semi-final against Granada, a team from Dublin, in a 1-0 victory, getting to the SFAI under-16 cup final. That speaks not only to the development of the facilities but also the wonderful journey we have seen in relation to female participation and how that has significantly grown and continues to grow in a really exciting way.”
“I think back to my time at Scoil Naomh Buadáin and the work that Brian Harris, for example, would have done, giving his time as I played underage with Culdaff Football Club. I think of the role Hugh Diver played and the great example of volunteers. I think back to how football brought together our local community and parish. While we might have had European Championships and World Cups as tournaments which everyone followed, the most important tournament in our parish every year was the parish cup, where each townland would have put in teams. That seven-a-side competition was the highlight of the summer season. The local town land of Cashel even managed to put in two teams, Cashel A and Cashel B. I was glad to be able to make the Cashel B team, which was the highlight of my football career.”
“He outlined the role he has played with other people in his community, working with a group of young people from the age of seven years old right through as they grew up, in the capacity of coaching them. He spoke not only about the impact it made on him and the people who coached them, but on those kids from a sporting point of view, and also the opportunity it provided for those kids to grow and have leadership provided through sport and the positive impact on their lives. That was my experience as well as I grew up. Like everyone here, I am grateful to the people who played and contributed over the years through volunteering their time to giving me an opportunity in sport.”
“I start by acknowledging and thanking Deputy Duncan Smith for requesting these statements. We have seen three and a half hours of statements and a really good, positive debate. The spirit in which the contributions have been made stand in very stark contrast to many of the other debates we have on the floor of the House. That reflects the fact that sport and football in particular brings out the best in everyone and brings people together. We have seen that here today. Through many of the contributions from TDs across the House we have also seen the impact that taking part in sport has had on their lives. It has played such a fond part in their lives and has had a positive impact. One of the contributions that struck me most was that of Deputy Farrelly.”
“It helps to build communities that stand together, where co-operation and mutual support are a given and our shared passion is mirrored in our individual achievements. It is a celebration of diversity and breaks down barriers, especially for the vulnerable, such as children, migrants and people with disabilities. From grassroots participation to elite and high-performance athletes, the Government is committed to supporting our sporting ecosystem and improving Ireland’s standing as a sporting nation. The support that continues to be provided for football is a key example of that commitment in action.”
“Sports tourism delivers great value and hosting major international sports events enriches the tourism and hospitality sectors all across the island. These events stimulate trade, foster community pride, and contribute significantly to our ongoing economic development. They can also inspire a sense of national pride and shape both how we see ourselves as a nation and how we are perceived internationally. Guided by the Government policy and strategy framework for the hosting of major international sporting events, we will continue to support the hosting of major football events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities. The true value of sport goes beyond the playing fields and courts. Sport brings people together, fosters mutual respect and drives positive change across societies, inspiring us to be our best selves.”
“The final attracted a substantial global audience of 49.5 million viewers and generated a total gross added value contribution of €17.4 million to the economy. It saw 47,000 spectators packing out the Aviva stadium with over 25,000 attendees coming from overseas, and it is estimated to have supported almost 300 jobs. It gave us a significant taste of what it will be like when we host EURO 2028 games in Dublin. Another potential major football event that is under consideration for support by my Department is the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2029. The FAI recently submitted a preliminary bid to UEFA to host the final. The potential hosting of this event represents an opportunity to promote the growth of women and girls' football in Ireland and to build on the momentum of co-hosting EURO 2028.”
“It is important that the tournament enhances the sustainability and legacy benefits for sport and related sectors, such as tourism, while minimising associated climate impacts, such as transport emissions and waste generation. My officials continue to work closely with their counterparts in the other host nations and all key stakeholders to ensure that Euro 2028 is delivered in a co-ordinated and cohesive manner that meets the objectives of all partners. We have seen the benefits of hosting major international football events most recently when the UEFA Europa League final was held in Dublin in 2024. The event played a significant role in stimulating economic growth, job creation and tourism in Dublin while also highlighting the city’s cultural heritage.”
“These plans will have targeted initiatives that are designed to increase participation, broaden access to football, positively impact behaviour at all levels of football and deliver for wider society. In addition to these legacy plans, there is an opportunity to work collectively with our hosting partners around key projects to deliver an impact that is beyond what is possible individually. In this regard, a community programme is being developed that will connect the participating nations and leverage the power of a UEFA Euro tournament to create additional impact for communities and drive meaningful benefits. Euro 2028 can also be a platform to amplify key national policies, such as using an event as an exemplar for sustainable practices.”
“At the launch of Euro 2028 last year, it was confirmed that Ireland would host seven games during the tournament, including a quarter final. The Government will invest just over €92.9 million in supporting the event and it is anticipated that the tournament will generate €449 million of socioeconomic benefits for Ireland. This will be the one of the largest sporting events Ireland has ever staged. The hosting of the tournament is a unique opportunity for effective collaboration to realise a meaningful legacy for wider society and I am determined to ensure that there will be a lasting benefit to all communities. Ireland’s national legacy plans for the tournament are being developed in collaboration between my Department and the FAI.”
“Major international sports events can play a key role in increasing sports participation, encourage domestic and international tourism and promoting Ireland as a destination for education and business opportunities. They present a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland and our world-class tourism and sports offering to Europe and the world. Last September’s first ever American National Football League game to be held in Ireland was a great example of this and provided a tremendous boost to the Irish economy. Through structured initiatives, the Government aims to leverage international sports events, like the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, to boost participation levels in sport, together with building a lasting social, economic and sporting legacy for future generations.”
“A new international sports diplomacy framework for enhancing the country's international engagement through sport was published last year. The resulting strategy was launched earlier this year and provides a comprehensive basis to advance Ireland’s sports diplomacy objectives. The hosting of major international sports events, such as the Ryder Cup in 2027 and the Euros in 2028, will be central to the implementation of the strategy by establishing Ireland as a sporting hub and building a global reputation as a premier sporting nation, fostering opportunities for international partnerships, cultural exchange and diaspora engagement.”
“Football for All is a national programme using football as a tool for social inclusion, well-being and community development, ensuring participation is not limited by physical, sensory, intellectual or social barriers. With around 3,800 participants across 82 clubs, the programme provides a pathway from grassroots to elite level for various disability groups, including cerebral palsy, CP, amputee, deaf, blind and powerchair football. In January, I was delighted to join Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and the FAI in presenting six new wheelchairs to the Association of Irish Powerchair Football. It was truly inspiring to see the great work being done by the FAI in this regard and it was a pleasure to promote a project that so clearly demonstrated what sport could achieve when inclusivity was at its core.”
“Sport Ireland has also allocated an additional €2.4 million for supporting disability sport-focused national governing bodies to continue their work in this area. This investment will help to ensure that anyone with a disability at any level, grassroots and above, can avail of their absolute right to enjoy and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity. We need to ensure that every person with a disability can step into a club, a pool, a pitch or a gym and feel that it is a place for them. A person’s disability should not be an obstacle to being physically active. The FAI has led this space for many years, beginning with the recruitment of a dedicated national lead in 2002 and the launch of its Football for All strategy in 2017.”
“I was pleased that increased funding secured for sport in budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a disability in sport lead in February 2025. The role has the potential to be transformational and the disability in sport lead will work with national governing bodies, local sports partnerships and other sporting bodies to develop and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport. Sport Ireland allocates €1.2 million at local level to fund a national network of sports inclusion disability officers, aligned to each of the 29 local sports partnerships in the country. The sports inclusion disability officers work in a co-ordinating capacity with all relevant stakeholders to increase and sustain participation opportunities for all people with disabilities.”
“It is essential that we increase the visibility and profile of our female athletes. Shining a spotlight on the achievements of women in sport is crucial as the heroes of today will inspire young girls to follow in their footsteps. The Sports Action Plan 2024-2027 contains a commitment to increase participation in sport among those with long-term illnesses or disabilities to 40% by 2027. Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gradient between persons with either long-term illnesses or disabilities and those without such illnesses or disabilities. The Irish sports monitor survey reports that this participation gap stood at 22% as of 2024. Both the Government and Sport Ireland are extremely committed to making this participation gap in sport a thing of the past.”
“This landmark research serves as a powerful reminder of the visibility gaps that still exist and highlights the need to amplify women’s sport across every platform. I believe there is substantial public interest in women’s sport, and this is illustrated, for example, by Kate O’Connor being the third most visible athlete in media coverage in 2025, with Sarah Healy and Leona Maguire also featuring in the top 20. We have made significant strides with regards to participation and governance and the next barrier is visibility. Ultimately, coverage decisions are matters for the media and broadcasting organisations concerned and I am aware that the Future of Media Commission has called for the development of a diversity and inclusion strategy for sports reporting and broadcasting.”
“Sport Ireland recently provided the first insights from its gender representation in Irish sports media research, a comprehensive analysis of sports media in Ireland examining how women in sport are represented. Analysis of more than 30,000 sports news stories across television, radio, print and online media last year showed women remain significantly under-represented in Irish sports media. Sport Ireland has previously supported several initiatives to support former athletes transitioning to a career in the media, including training, workshops and internships. The research showed women accounted for just 15% of all sports journalists and that they were 1.5 times more likely than male journalists to cover women in sport.”
“In the past three years alone, Sport Ireland has allocated over €1 million to the FAI to support its women in sport participation programmes, from grassroots participation and coaching to leadership, officiating, volunteering and high performance. As Minister of State with responsibility for sport, I will continue to tackle issues to ensure that women’s sport reaches parity with its male equivalent and that females do not drop out of sport due to a lack of adequate training facilities or access to opportunities. I am steadfast in my commitment to continue to increase women’s sustained involvement across all sports and at every level, from grassroots to high performance. Media representation of women in sport remains uneven and greater efforts are needed to ensure women’s performances and stories receive equitable coverage.”
“Sport Ireland’s women in sport policy supports national governing bodies as well as local sports partnerships, clubs, schools and communities in championing women and girls in sport, regardless of role or level or ability. Significant progress is being made in this regard, with increasing numbers of women and girls participating in sport and greater female participation and representation in the governance and leadership of sport in Ireland. Our women in sport funding programme has been in place since 2005 and over the past two decades, over €30 million has been invested in promoting gender equality in sport.”
“The FAI has been at the forefront in growing female participation in sport, building on the legacy of the women's national senior team competing at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and underpinned by its women and girls football action plan and targeted programmes like the In Her Boots campaign. There are now more women and girls playing football than ever before. Female participation in sport is an important element of our national sports policy and represents a core priority for me and my Department. The Government is committed to eliminating the gender participation gap in sport, which has been reduced to 2.8%, and to promoting a "sport for all" approach, aimed at ensuring that all persons can partake equally in sport regardless of gender.”
“One of the positive aspects of League of Ireland football is that it is still very much true to its roots and boasts a strong connection to its communities. While some competitions abroad may have lost their magic as commercialism takes them over, supporters of League of Ireland clubs can still enjoy an authentic matchday experience that perhaps cannot be found elsewhere. I am particularly pleased to see how the women’s domestic game has grown in recent years in the League of Ireland and generally. The FAI’s strategic cycle from 2022 to 2025 saw a 79% increase in participation among women and girls compared with the previous strategic cycle, which is a tremendous achievement.”
“Its competitive nature means that for fans in the stands and watching from home, every fixture now feels like it carries significant weight. It boasts a strong mix of exciting young talent and experienced older heads, which makes for some great games. Clearly, the League of Ireland is on the up and I have no doubt this positive trend will continue. In January, Mason Melia made the switch from St Patrick’s Athletic to Tottenham Hotspur, while Josh Honohan joined Lincoln City from Shamrock Rovers. While it is a loss for the League of Ireland to lose such potential, it proves that the division boasts serious quality. The return of 36-year-old James McClean to Derry City from Championship side Wrexham will also be a draw for supporters keen to see players who have performed on some of the biggest stages.”
“This sets out clear conditions for funding, including performance milestones, reporting requirements and governance standards. It ensures that public funding is subject to strong oversight, with clear accountability at club level and mechanisms in place to monitor delivery and intervene where necessary. This is a key safeguard for the Government and ensures that investment will translate into measurable outcomes. I am confident that the measures being implemented by the FAI will leave a lasting impact on the growth of the game nationwide. The continued growth of the League of Ireland is a credit to the FAI and the clubs. Growing on an annual basis, the league is thriving, with soaring popularity and attendance at games.”
“While it is encouraging that one female applicant was successfully appointed to the academy director panel, this remains an area that requires focused attention. The FAI has also put in place a comprehensive programme of training and guidance for clubs to ensure they fully understand both the requirements and the expectations associated with delivering recruitment processes to the highest possible standard. This investment in capacity building has not only enhanced the quality and consistency of recruitment practices across clubs but has also strengthened the overall foundations of the wider football ecosystem, embedding better governance and professionalism at club level. Alongside the recruitment process, the FAI has developed a robust and comprehensive grant agreement framework.”
“This represents an important step in strengthening the overall academy structure and ensuring a consistent, high-quality approach to talent development across the league. The first appointees will be in position before the end of this month with others coming on stream throughout the year. However, the FAI wishes to highlight one area of concern. The number of female applicants across both roles was low, with a total of six applications received, representing approximately 2% of the overall applicant pool. The association has engaged with Sport Ireland on this matter and has provided feedback gathered from potential candidates who chose not to apply to better understand the barriers that may exist.”
“From this highly competitive process, 24 candidates were successfully appointed to the academy director panel and 32 candidates to the head of academy coaching panel. It is particularly encouraging to note that a significant proportion of applicants are young Irish coaches who have previously had to pursue opportunities abroad due to the limited domestic football industry. This investment in League of Ireland academies is now providing a credible pathway for these individuals to return home and build their careers within Irish football. The panels have now been formally communicated to eligible League of Ireland clubs, many of whom have already commenced their recruitment processes using these panels.”
“The FAI has invited a Sport Ireland representative to join this committee. I am pleased to update the House on the significant progress made to date on the League of Ireland academy investment since the announcement of funding in budget 2026. There has been an exceptionally strong response from across the football community to the League of Ireland academy recruitment panels. The FAI received almost 300 applications for the roles of academy director and head of academy coaching. This demonstrates both the scale of interest and the growing confidence in the League of Ireland academy system. Following the initial screening process, 50 applicants were shortlisted for the academy director role and 74 applicants for the head of academy coaching role.”
“As well as consolidating key insights, the report presents strategic recommendations to guide future progress aimed at building a robust, performance-driven environment where the next generation of Irish footballers can thrive. The report will enable informed decision-making and long-term strategic planning for elite player development and will guide future, long-term investment rather than short-term fixes. Alignment between the FAI, the league, clubs, the Government and other stakeholders, is crucial to the successful implementation of the report’s recommendations. To deliver proper oversight of the ongoing development of the League of Ireland academies, the FAI proposes to establish an academy oversight committee, a subcommittee of its national leagues committee.”
“The League of Ireland Academy Global Findings Report benchmarked Irish football academies against international standards based on an audit of existing academy structures and needs and provided a basis on which to commit to multi-annual funding support. The report revealed that Irish football talent development is significantly behind international standards, particularly when compared with nations ranked 51 to 100 by FIFA. The report outlines 50 recommendations which, if implemented in the coming years, should create a strong academy system that would underpin a sustainable domestic football league and, ultimately, strengthen the quality of players coming through to the national teams.”
“As part of budget 2026, I was pleased to announce a €3 million multi-annual allocation to support the development of a modern and professional football academy system that will provide the structures and pathways required to support future generations of Irish players, male and female, and maximise the potential of Irish football. This is on foot of the programme for Government commitment to exploring new mechanisms for the creation of football academies. This builds on the additional funding of €1 million provided by the Department to the FAI in 2024, which enabled it to produce a detailed report on the League of Ireland academies system. That funding also enabled the appointment by the FAI of an academies administrator to support the development of new academy programmes and to track their impact.”
“There may also be a need for an enhanced role for local authorities as we seek to provide sporting facilities proximate to new housing developments, while also taking account of the sporting preferences of our new and emerging communities. Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider there is real merit in the development of municipally backed, shared, multi-use facilities and I encourage national governing bodies, NGBs, of sports and local authorities to collaborate in this regard.”
“In the context of the development of the next ten-year national sports policy, a process I recently initiated, capital investment must deliver on the emerging policy priorities. This could take the form of more targeted investment while allowing for some demand-led funding. Such targeted funding, for example, prioritises the delivery of swimming infrastructure as highlighted in the recently published Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report. Other areas for prioritised investment could be socially deprived areas of our inner cities and facilities therein. We should also consider priority funding for historically underfunded sports such as boxing and sporting organisations that do not own or that lease their land or premises.”
“All projects under LSSIF 2024 are currently being progressed in accordance with the infrastructure guidelines set out by the Government. Regarding a future round of the LSSIF, our current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds, but we intend to open a new round later in 2027. The programme for Government confirms that we will maintain sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there is a lower than average participation level, including people with disabilities and older people. In this context, and having regard to other relevant commitments in the programme for Government, it is important we take a strategic approach to capital investment.”
“Under the LSSIF round in 2018, eight football projects were allocated €11.8 million in funding. They included Atlantic Technological University, iRos, Cavan Regional Sports Campus, Thurles Regional Sports Campus, Dalymount Park, East Galway Sports Campus, Finn Harps and the Munster Centre of Excellence in Glanmire. Under LSSIF 2024, €84.3 million was awarded to ten football projects, which were Dalymount Park, Sligo Rovers Stadium Development, Atlantic Technological University Letterkenny Regional Sports Activity Hub, Cork Northwest Community Sports Hub, Wexford Football Club Hub, Tallaght Stadium, Marlay Sports Hub, Cavan Regional Sports Campus, Mayo Community Sports Campus and Seafield Sports & Community Facility.”
“I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026, which I expect to open early in the summer. I encourage all football clubs to prepare for this and to ensure applications are fully aligned with the goals and guidelines of the fund. It is anticipated that this next round will particularly target areas and sports that have been underinvested in over the years. A total of €297 million has been invested through LSSIF across 68 projects. The 2018 round awarded €124 million to 33 of those, with €173 million awarded in November 2024 to 35 projects following record demand. Of the €297 million allocated under the LSSIF to date, €96 million was awarded to 18 football projects that are either directly sponsored by the FAI or incorporate football elements.”
“Just over €96 million of this was allocated under the LSSIF and almost €96 million was allocated to over 1,500 football projects under the CSFF. Over €250 million was allocated to more than 3,000 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the fund, representing the largest ever investment in sports facilities in communities across the country. Over €50 million of this was allocated to football clubs and a total of 536 football projects. This funding has facilitated improvements in the quality and quantity of football facilities in virtually every village, town and city. In line with previous rounds of the fund, a review of the current funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly.”
“The CSFF, formerly known as the sports capital and equipment fund, is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national levels. The fund aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assists the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. The LSSIF was established under the national sports policy, published in 2018, to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the CSFF. Since 2015, approximately €192 million has been allocated to football projects under all sports capital programmes to support the development of grassroots soccer facilities nationwide.”
“In addition to its core funding grant of €6 million, the FAI was allocated €300,000 in 2025 under the Government and Sport Ireland's women in sport programme to enhance the delivery, recognition, promotion and development of participation and leadership initiatives and opportunities for women and girls in football. It also received €200,000 in 2025 in dormant accounts funding to support participation programmes for those who are economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged, or people with disabilities. Significant capital funding has been granted to football projects across the country in recent years. My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely, the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF.”
“The Government has invested well over €1 billion in sports infrastructure and development in Ireland since 2018. The return on this investment in terms of community participation, inclusion, integration and physical and mental well-being is substantial. It is important to note the sizeable financial support directed by the Government to the FAI and to football more generally over the past few years. The State allocated approximately €80 million in current funding to the FAI between 2019 and 2025 to support football development and grow participation. This included a total of €33.7 million in Covid-specific supports in the period from 2020 to 2022. It also included €1.3 million under the sports energy support scheme to help alleviate the impact of increased energy costs for clubs.”
“The first MOU provided the association with financial stability but also brought about the necessary governance reforms to allow it to rebuild itself. The current MOU will allow it to further progress its corporate governance reform agenda while at the same time giving it the financial support needed to continue to develop football across the country. Continued Government investment is essential to further increase participation levels in all sports across all sectors of society. In 2018, total funding to sport from my Department was €111 million and the national sports policy committed to doubling that figure by 2027. That target was actually achieved in 2025. In 2026, we will invest over €300 million in sport, an increase of €67 million or 28.7% compared with 2025.”
“The FAI continues to strengthen governance, safeguarding and operational standards across Irish football through two interconnected national accreditation frameworks. The FAI club mark is a national accreditation system for governance, safeguarding, club administration, volunteer services and structures, and long-term player development. The FAI league mark is the complementary accreditation programme designed to raise governance and football operations standards at league level. The FAI has significantly expanded its governance support infrastructure across both programmes. Sport Ireland and my Department continue to engage with the FAI on progressing the recommendations and conditions set out in the current MOU.”
“While the FAI has introduced significant governance reform at a national level, the broader football ecosystem remains complex and fragmented, with large representative structures, multiple committees and inconsistent governance models across its affiliates, leagues and grassroot clubs. I very much welcome the FAI's commitment to cascade good governance and structures throughout the entire football ecosystem. To achieve this, a comprehensive review of league and affiliate governance will be undertaken by the association, including a review of grassroots league structures to deliver stable and geographically logical leagues for women, men and children. Training and resources will be provided by the FAI throughout the football pyramid to support this reform.”