Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Ó Ríordáin, whose passion for this subject has been evidenced today. We have been listening to it as a parliamentary party for quite some time. His passion has convinced us to give very precious Private Members' time to what is truly an important issue for every community and every one of our constituencies. We have in this motion an opportunity for every party and the House collectively to do something really important, to meet the passion of so many young people in all our communities, a passion for football. It is the most played and most popular sport on the planet. We know the value of participation in sport, any sport, for health, well-being, social and emotional development. In truth, the Government has in recent times made substantial public funding available for sports clubs and facilities. That is an absolute truth.

The motion wants us to recognise, in acknowledging the good and the bad from the past, what is potentially there for the future, to be forward-looking, progressive, ambitious. Government, in truth all politicians, love a plan. We particularly like a plan that has set and clear objectives, timelines and costings. Right now we have such a plan, a 15-year development vision across 2,500 projects to transform the facilities available to every child, youth and adult who wants to play football in Ireland. I understand how public money is decided. I have some experience in that at central Government level. Those projects best prepared and ready are most likely to be advanced and funded. Projects need to have ownership of land or at least a very long-term lease. Up to now, it is true that not every sport has had equal capacity to draw down the funds available. That is an inescapable truth. As the motion calls for, it is time now for the State itself to have a comprehensive, State-backed investment programme to develop the domestic football game covering grassroots, League of Ireland and the international teams. The core of what we are asking is that the State would embrace this opportunity, with our women's team playing at the highest international level, with an enormous support base and enormous enthusiasm. We call on the Government to ensure that is captured and that all those children and youths who want to will be able to play in decent facilities. We were all shocked by some of the stories we heard, particularly of young women having to pass urinals to get to showers. That is simply not good enough.

I know football is in a healthy state in my county. Great work is ongoing and that needs to be recognised and acknowledged. Many clubs such as Bunclody Football Club have ambitious plans to build full-size, floodlit pitches. Rosslare Rangers is hoping to provide an astroturf pitch and there has already been a broad community outreach to immigrants and so on. I can see what is happening on the ground. Wexford Celtic, which are represented in the Gallery, have ambitious plans to provide better facilities. The Wexford and District Schoolboys League, a huge league in Wexford, needs a permanent pitch.

There is so much happening, and so much more could happen if we embrace the opportunity that this plan now gives us and decide, as an Oireachtas, to provide every community and young, ambitious, football-loving person in this country with the facilities to reach their ambition and fulfil their dreams. There is strong support across the House for action. Let us decide, in accepting this motion, to provide money for what we all believe is the right thing.

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