Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am acutely aware of the difficulties and challenges facing all sporting organisations and clubs, including those in the League of Ireland. Measures introduced by the Government to date which have benefited the sports sector include the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, the PUP and a series of enterprise supports.

There has been extensive engagement with the sports sector over recent months which has highlighted the significant adverse impact of Covid-19 on all levels of the Irish sporting landscape. The Covid-19 sports management group, chaired at a ministerial level, has been established to engage directly which the sporting bodies. An expert group on the return to sport, chaired by an official of my Department, is also being established to provide advice and guidance to sporting bodies. Sport Ireland is also engaging directly which the sporting bodies on an ongoing basis.

A funding package of up to €70 million has been put in place to support the sector and the package will be administered by Sport Ireland. There will be funding of up to €40 million for the three main organisations: the FAI, to which the League of Ireland pertains, the GAA, and the IRFU. There will be a resilience fund of up to €10 million to support the national governing bodies of sport, as well as a sports club resilience fund and up to €15 million in support for clubs, and a sports restart and renewal fund. The funding will be invested through new grant schemes with Sport Ireland. The closing date for applications under the Covid-19 grant schemes was 14 September and a large number of applications were received. There are four strands of funding.

I know how valuable and important the League of Ireland is as a competition in our local communities. It plays a central part in the lives of many club supporters and we are lucky to have such a great league. In that regard, Sport Ireland is engaging directly with the national governing body and through the FAI on the allocation of Covid-19 funding for its affiliated clubs. In recent contact with the sports sector, we made clear that the financial and operational challenges associated with Covid-19 will continue into 2021. Any additional funding for sport in 2021 is subject to the budgetary process which is under way, but we want to see sport funded and supported. It is a key part of our community and that includes the League of Ireland.

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