Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Dublin and neighbouring local authorities to ensure that the city, neighbouring towns, communities and soccer clubs can welcome and host fans of the various international teams competing in the Euro 2028 soccer tournament; the social impact and community activity programmes will benefit from a €6.2 million spend as part of Ireland's €93 million investment in Euro 2028 soccer tournament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64626/25]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I did not think we would get to this question but some of it has been discussed with the Minister of State in the context of investment in sport and where we finished off discussing Euro 2028. I am asking whether the city, neighbouring towns and communities and sports clubs can host fans and the international teams and create events similar to what happen during the Special Olympics in 2003.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We discussed this in good detail earlier, but the objective will be to ensure there is as much of a legacy and impact across the country from the hosting of Euro 2028 as possible. Being able to host seven games as part of the tournament, including the quarter final, is a great opportunity. I have no doubt it will really take hold of the country over the course of the period. As I said, we estimate the cost at €92 million to €93 million. The economic return to the wider economy will be much more significant than that and it makes a lot of sense from that point of view but we also want to ensure there is a return in the form of an impact on participation in football and sport generally and that we maximise that as much as we can. We are just under three years away from the hosting of that tournament. We are engaging in very strong detail with other organisations and national agencies to make sure it impacts as strongly as possible. We are also engaging with the FAI on discussions about the legacy piece and how we can best maximise the impact of that. I certainly hope we will have another football tournament to participate in between now and then, depending on how the play-offs go in March, but Euro 2028 is a very exciting opportunity for the country. We will work across the board with all stakeholders to make sure we maximise the impact of it in every way possible.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. We have an opportunity. While €93 million has been committed it is 2028 so there is an opportunity to add to that. The Government has committed to the €93 million. We know what the return is but between now and 2028 greater investment can be put into local clubs and communities to ensure we get the greatest benefit for Dublin and outside the city as well because even though the matches are being held here, this is the world stage. We need to ensure that similar to other large sporting events that have been held in Ireland in the past, and will be held shortly, we will be on the world stage and need to ensure that not just what happens on the pitch but what happens outside it works well. There is need for a greater investment.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We are certainly determined, from a Government point of view, to maximise the opportunity and to ensure from a point of view of participation that every opportunity is taken to ensure it cuts through and gets people involved in football and other sport. The commitment of the Government in the most recent budget to football and the establishment of academies speaks to how we have been supporting football very strongly in the country. While at Government level will be doing all we can, there is no doubt moments like last weekend and the inspiration provided by Troy Parrott and the rest of the team encourage participation and young people. I recall watching matches in tournaments in the past and I would be bursting out the door afterwards, even if I was on my own, to hit the ball. That is the type of thing that really cuts through and inspires and energise people to participate in sport. From a Government point of view, in terms of the investment and policy structure, we will be doing all we can to maximise that and provide the opportunity for people to participate and engage.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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We have a once-in-a-lifetime - though maybe not in a lifetime - opportunity to enhance Ireland's reputation.

In one small area of Dublin city, the north inner city, which has had bad press in recent times, Troy Parrott, Kellie Harrington and people like them have shown that, even when conditions are adverse, sports can shine through. The more we invest in sports and in those communities, the more we will see great sportspeople into the future, whom we can all follow and use to encourage other young people into sport. In an earlier response, the Minister of State mentioned that Dublin City Council will get about €6 million out of this. Again, I encourage him to look at that funding again and to increase it to ensure that the Dublin region as a whole and areas outside of it can get more from the investment.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We should not forget the support that we have given to football over the past number of years, which we continue to give. Some €75 million was allocated to the FAI between 2019 and 2024, with €30 million specifically to support football development aimed at promoting participation by young people. That has been added to in the most recent budget through the investment in the academies and the very significant ongoing investment through the community sports facilities fund, which supports the work of soccer clubs right across the country in developing their facilities, and through the large scale sport infrastructure fund, through which we have made significant commitments to the development of Dalymount Park, Wexford Youths' stadium, Sligo Rovers' grounds and, significantly, Finn Harps' Finn Park in Donegal. That is something we have been doing and that we continue to do. We now want to make sure the opportunity provided by Euro 2028 adds to that very significantly in a way that lasts into the future.