Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. He was present last week when we engaged in a substantive debate on sport in Ireland. I wish to return to one of the topics I raised with him on that occasion. I appreciate that the matter I am raising is wide-ranging in nature and that the Minister of State has no control over direct funding for League of Ireland soccer. However, as Minister of State with responsibility for sport, as a former soccer player and as a current fan of the game, I ask him to take on board my concerns regarding the League of Ireland and its current status.

The Minister of State will be aware that the league has a long and proud history and tradition which stretches back to 1921. It was, therefore, founded in a difficult period in the country's history. It was a separate organisation, from a footballing perspective, until it merged with the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, in 2006. There were high hopes and aspirations at the time of that merger that the FAI would use its better revenue streams, resources, funding and management structure to ensure and secure the future of the League of Ireland. However, it must be conceded that League of Ireland soccer is at a very low level at present. I am advised that UEFA ranks the various national domestic soccer leagues throughout Europe and that the League of Ireland is currently ranked 40 out of 54. In fairness, the national soccer team's UEFA ranking would be higher.

There are numerous problems with the league and these have been aired on many occasions, particularly during the past two to three years. I refer, for example, to the standard of facilities at most clubs, low attendances at games, the fact that so many clubs face financial disaster, the disappearance of a large number of clubs, other clubs going into administration and poor marketing and management. What can be done about this problem and who should lead the charge in respect of it? If someone such as the Minister of State were to knock heads together, progress could be made. Record numbers of people - tens of thousands at least - throughout the country play soccer each weekend and there are junior and unaffiliated clubs in virtually every parish. However, only a few thousand attend League of Ireland games. We all know how many hundreds of thousands of people watch English soccer games on television at weekends and that thousands more travel to London, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow to watch English Premier League or Scottish Premiership games. It is tragic that these individuals do not go to watch local games.

We should aim to put in place a league structure similar to those in Scandinavian countries where there is a strong tradition of semi-professional soccer. If we were to do so, clubs here would have good facilities and we could aim to achieve attendances of between 5,000 and 10,000 at an average home game. These goals should be achievable. If we were to start from scratch, there would be two or perhaps three clubs in Dublin and strong clubs in Cork, Limerick, Athlone, Dundalk, Drogheda, Donegal - where Finn Harps is currently the leading club - Sligo, Wexford, Longford and Galway. The obvious population centres are there to support League of Ireland soccer but we need to give consideration to marketing, developing facilities and improving management structures. A total of 17,000 people attended the FAI Cup Final, the domestic season's showcase game. I am sure the Minister of State, had he been in a position to do so, would also have attended. I congratulate St. Patrick's Athletic on its great win but the turnout at the final was disappointing, particularly when one compares it with the sizes of the crowds which attend national football and hurling league games and European Rugby Champions Cup games, not to mention All-Ireland quarter finals, semi finals or finals.

I appreciate that the Minister of State's hands are tied to some extent. However, I am of the view that he could show great leadership in the context of trying to save the League of Ireland. He is renowned for the work he is doing within the Department and long may such work continue. The Minister of State could leave a very strong legacy behind if he were to become the person responsible for saving and redeveloping the League of Ireland. If clubs from Scandinavian and the new eastern European countries can compete on a serious level in the Europa League or the UEFA Champions League, it should be possible for semi-professional clubs in Ireland to aspire to appear on the same stage at some point in the future. It is rather embarrassing to see Irish clubs being knocked out in the preliminary rounds or first round of these competitions. One can almost predict the results in advance. What is happening at present is not good enough. If we can put the proper structures, management and financial models in place, we can turn matters around. However, leadership is going to be required. I do not think there is sufficient leadership in respect of the League of Ireland project at present. The people working to advance the cause of Irish soccer from an international perspective are doing a good job. However, major tournaments at this level only occur once every two years and we do not always qualify for them. We need to concentrate our efforts on the League of Ireland, which is in operation for 30 or 35 weeks each year.

I ask the Minister of State to reflect on this matter. I appreciate that he will be limited in terms of the way in which he can respond to the matter I have raised. However, I request that he take a personal interest in trying to save the League of Ireland because it is going down the drain.