Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

Government investment in sport is essential to increasing participation levels in all sports, across all sectors of society. The allocation for the sports programme in budget 2026 is over €290 million, an increase of just under €60 million or 26%, compared to last year's allocation. When the national sports policy was published in 2018, it set a commitment to double investment in sport to more than €220 million by 2027, so I am pleased that we have well exceeded that commitment already. My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the community sports facilities fund and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, which we are discussing in relation to one particular awardee this evening.

Through that fund, over €250 million euro was allocated to 3,000 community sports facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the fund. A total of €297 million has been invested through the LSSIF across 68 projects. The 2018 round allocated €124 million to 33 projects, of which this is one, including top-ups in 2023. In November 2024, €173 million was allocated to 35 projects following record demand on that occasion.

To deal with the specific award raised by the Deputy, my Department provided a provisional allocation of just over €2.025 million for the Munster centre of excellence under the first round of the LSSIF in 2020. The proposal involved the development of grass pitches, an AstroTurf facility, floodlighting and dressing rooms. The FAI wrote to the Department on 10 May 2023 stating that it no longer intended to proceed with the LSSIF-funded centre of excellence in Glanmire. According to the FAL the decision not to proceed with the proposal was due to the fact that the original proposal no longer represented the greatest return on investment for the parties involved. Regarding the Glanmire site originally designated for the Munster centre of excellence, Cork County Council, which holds the title, are currently in negotiations with Riverstown FC in relation to a sub-lease. The FAI currently holds a lease on the site. Once legal formalities between the FAI, the council and Riverstown FC are concluded - and I understand that they are nearing completion - Riverstown FC plans to develop the site into a multisport facility for the local community, with the intention of incorporating additional amenities to further support community needs.

In relation to a new location for the Munster centre of excellence, the FAI has been providing ongoing updates to my officials. On 16 October 2025, my Department formally wrote to the FAI seeking a detailed update, which was received today. The FAI has confirmed that negotiations are actively progressing, with discussions at an advanced stage, regarding a potential new site for the centre. The FAI plans to present the proposed site and project details to its board at the next scheduled meeting at the end of this month. Subject to board approval, the FAI intends to seek my Department’s support in transferring the original LSSIF grant to the newly proposed location. The FAI will submit a business case to the Department outlining the revised project location, scope and partnership arrangements for consideration. As negotiations are ongoing, further details cannot be disclosed at this time. As I have previously stated, my Department remains open to considering a request to repurpose the original grant, provided the revised proposal continues to meet the overarching objectives of the original project. Any amended submission from the FAI must comply with the established LSSIF guidelines and be supported by appropriate due diligence.

It is important to note the sizable financial support given to the FAI and to football more generally over the past few years. Over €75 million in State funding has been allocated to the FAI between 2019 and 2024, including €30.2 million specifically to support football development and aimed at promoting participation in football by young people, with the balance in funding comprising Covid-specific and energy supports to the FAI and the wider football sector.

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