Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Dar ndóigh, tá tairbhe iontach dearfach ag baint le hinfheistiú ama, airgid agus fuinnimh in aon spórt. Tá an tairbhe sin le feiscint i saol daoine óga, ina gcuid oideachais, sa tsláinte atá acu agus, go háirithe sa lá atá inniu, ina meabhairshláinte. Tá sé le feiscint chomh maith sa phobal áitiúil i gcoitinne. Tá ardú meanman i gceist chomh maith nuair atá an fhoireann áitiúil nó an fhoireann náisiúnta ag dul chun cinn. Caithfimid déanamh cinnte de gur féidir linn a bheith san iomaíocht ag an leibhéal sin. Ní tharlaíonn sé sin gan infheistiú ceart agus cuí ag an leibhéal is ísle. Is féidir linn i bhfad Éireann níos mó a dhéanamh leis an bpota airgid atá againn chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go bhfuil an réimse is leithne daoine i gceist agus go bhfuil siadsan ag fáil tairbhe as. Mar shampla, i mo cheantar féin, cén fáth nach bhfuil rian ar an bpáirc imeartha atá geallta do na Saoirsí? Where is the complex for the Sporting Liberties, the umbrella organisation for several local clubs in Dublin 8? The Liberties was declared this week as of the coolest places in the world to live in, but it is still without a pitch for soccer, Gaelic, rugby, hurling, camogie and much more. It is a challenge for the Minister of State and for the local authority and that needs to be overcome.

Cén fáth gur tógadh sé pháirc astro sacair i mBaile Átha Cliath 10 agus 12 i bpáirceanna a bhaineann leis an gcomhairle cathrach ach nár tógadh aon cheann ar mhaithe le peil, iomáint ná camógaíocht? Uaireanta, ní gá páirc iomlán a bheith athraithe ó fhéar go astro ach páirc chleachtaidh chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go bhfuil fad curtha leis an bpáirc imeartha. Ag caint faoi sacar, League of Ireland clubs have been calling for funding for academies for years. If we are to continue to see improvements in the local league teams, to see young players progress to the teams in those leagues or to see them go further afield to enhance their sporting careers, and if we are to celebrate the battles, wins and losses of the Irish football team into the future, we need to invest in those academies in the budget next week so that we are not lagging behind our international competitors. An immediate investment of €9 million over the first two years would ensure that those academies are on a sound footing, and ensure those jobs required to guarantee that young people benefit fully at the age required and that there is a women's under-15s programme for all the clubs and more. That needs to be declared in next week's budget for Ireland to excel in the many sports we have.

We have invested time and effort but if we had invested a lot more money, imagine where the vast undertapped potential would bring us. That is the vision. Hopefully, in the future, it can be realised.

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