Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, for whom I have two questions. What month will he announce the allocation of funding this year? Will he make some kind of commitment that the actual numbers participating in the different sports might be considered when he is deciding how to divvy up the money this time round? The people involved in soccer in Wexford are of the opinion that if I were not in the Dáil, they would probably get more money. If that is the case, it is probably not a good sign in terms of accountability, transparency and how things are done. I am not laying it at the Minister of State's door, but there is a feeling among the soccer fraternity in the county that politics is at work and soccer has fared poorly. They think my presence here has not helped the situation. Sadly, I suspect they may be right. The figures speak for themselves, with less than a 5% allocation in 2012 and 11% in 2014 for the biggest sport in the county. It does not look well. It would be very hard for me, no matter which side of the House I was on, to defend the figures when challenged by people in the soccer fraternity. I hope as much fairness as possible will apply on the next occasion.

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