Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. As he knows, Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport in Ireland. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding across its various programmes and governance oversight of the national governing bodies, NGBs, of sport. All sporting bodies funded by Sport Ireland are required to comply with standards of good governance, including financial oversight and Sport Ireland periodically reviews governance and oversight in the bodies it supports.

The recent media reports to which the Deputy referred, regarding a loan provided to the FAI by its CEO, have raised serious questions about governance and financial controls in the FAI. Sport Ireland is currently engaged with the association to clarify these matters and when the necessary clarifications have been received from the FAI, Sport Ireland will submit a report to me. In the interests of due process and natural justice, it is important that Sport Ireland's engagement with the FAI would be given the necessary time to ensure that all matters are considered thoroughly. Therefore, I do not wish to make any comment on any possible outcome from this ongoing process.

Sport Ireland provides funding to the FAI primarily through the field sports grant. This funding is directed towards participation and games development programmes and is broadly aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in soccer. In 2018, €2.56 million was provided for this purpose. In 2018, the FAI also received funding of €142,500 through the women in sport programme; €195,000 in support of the women's national team; €22,500 to support the running of Cerebral Palsy Ireland football; and €20,000 in dormant accounts funding. In total, Sport Ireland provided over €2.9 million in current funding to the FAI in 2018. The total funding provided in 2017 was over €2.7 million.

Sport Ireland has robust arrangements in place in relation to the funding it provides to sporting bodies, including the FAI. As part of Sport Ireland's normal processes and procedures relating to the annual grant cycle, NGBs in receipt of grant funding are required to submit to Sport Ireland a copy of their financial statements. This must include a statement from their auditor that each grant was expended in accordance with the approved submission for the grant funding. Given the amount of funding involved, the FAI, along with the GAA and the IRFU, are generally audited by Sport Ireland's internal auditors every three years. The most recent audit of the FAI was completed in 2016 and a further audit is due to take place later this year.

On my Department's sports capital programme, SCP, the FAI has benefitted from some limited funding over the years with a total of €190,000 allocated directly to the organisation since 2015. A separate grant of €160,000 was allocated in 2015 to AUL-FAI Ltd for the development of a natural playing surface at the Athletic Union League, AUL, complex in Clonshaugh.

I am satisfied that the existing controls in place for all grant payments under the SCP are robust. As we have seen in the past, failures of governance within sporting bodies unfortunately damage the reputation of Irish sport as a whole. This is why it is so important that we ensure strong governance across all associations. Sport Ireland has made it clear that all sporting bodies must take the necessary steps to comply with the governance code for the community, voluntary and charity sector. I know many sporting bodies are making good progress towards achieving this and I encourage them to continue their efforts.

See this speech in context