Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)

As we talk about the sporting landscape, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the tragic passing of a well-known Limerick sports fan, Luke Grimes, who passed away in recent days at the tender age of 24. Luke was an infectious personality and a regular attendee at junior soccer matches across Limerick. It was fitting on Sunday that clubs across the county observed a minute's silence in his memory. I extend my sympathies to Derrick, Noreen, his sister Danielle and the rest of his family and friends. Luke's funeral mass takes place tomorrow. May he rest in peace.

The sports capital programme, in particular, has been beneficial to sports clubs up and down the country. I can verify that it has been of great benefit to sporting clubs in Limerick, including my local soccer club Ballynanty Rovers. Under the leadership of Christian Meehan, Ray O'Halloran, Ger Doherty and others, with sports capital assistance from 2024, they recently launched a fantastic new pitch, Bateman Park, which will serve the community for generations to come.

Staying with soccer, I urge the Government to ensure funding for League of Ireland academies is included in next week's budget. Such funding is crucial to protect the game in this country and for the enhancement and evolvement of it. League of Ireland clubs have been waiting on Government funding for their academies for some years.

A recent audit noted that football academies are lagging significantly behind international competitors in terms of full-time staff and player contact hours, requiring significant investment in infrastructure and personnel to meet the required standards. They have outlined what they need, namely, 81 new full-time academy jobs, a women's under-15s programme for all clubs, athletic development testing equipment for all clubs, a centralised playing platform to track all League of Ireland academy players and a quality assurance process for all the clubs.

Sports can unite people. In some towns it is incredibly important, as a tiny minority seeks to divide us at the moment. In my hometown of Limerick, we have had tremendous growth through sports partnership among young girls in our local clubs. Be it GAA, rugby or soccer, I have seen a huge increase in the number of young girls participating in sports. Our premier division women's team of Treaty United have fought well this year and it has been encouraging to see the growth in their spectators. Since 2023, the numbers attending the home leagues have more than doubled. We must keep participation going beyond the teenage years. I urge the Minister of State to ensure enhanced funding for LSSIF, CSFF and sports capital so that sporting clubs can continue to enhance their facilities and attract more young, and indeed not so young, people back into sport and a lifestyle that benefits them all.

I want to mention specifically Madison McGuane from the Lee Estate in Limerick. Madison is just 15 years of age yet she is already standing out. She has been excelling in her debut season at senior level with Treaty United and recently had her superb form recognised by winning the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division player of the month award.

The sports capital grants and other grants have served clubs well, and grassroots funding programmes must be maintained in the upcoming budget. The League of Ireland academies, the large-scale sports infrastructure fund and sports capital grants must be properly funded for the future of grassroots sports. Let us support all these volunteers, who get out and help, do voluntary work, keep all the clubs going and ensure that clubs and societies are funded properly.

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