Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last week, I raised the lack of investment in League of Ireland football. I recently attended the League of Ireland academy’s briefing in the audiovisual room. It was clear to all who attended, right across the political divide, that there is a long-term sustainable football industry to be created in this country. It will benefit the economy, it will benefit society in general and, most importantly, it will benefit young Irish footballers. The ongoing European Championships show how international football can provide a great sense of national pride and galvanise the mood in a country. If we want to be able to qualify for and regularly compete at major championships, we need to act now before we fall further behind our European counterparts. Is the Government willing to support the development of our football academies? How will it do that?

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