Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the first instance, I propose to only read part of my prepared script before responding directly to the points the Senator has raised. The script I have been asked to deliver does not relate to the matters to which he refers.

I would like to thank Senator Bradford for raising this important topic and I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on it. I am aware of his concern with regard to League of Ireland football. However, I have no role in respect of this matter. The development of League of Ireland football is entirely a matter for the FAI, which is an independent sporting organisation. The funding provided to the FAI by the Irish Sports Council is ring-fenced for the non-professional elements of the sport and it is mainly focused on programmes aimed at increasing young people's participation in football.

I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Bradford. He is quite correct; I am a footballing person and I have a great interest in the League of Ireland. I attended the FAI Cup Final two years ago when Drogheda United played Sligo Rovers. I watch football on RTE, Sky Sports and on "Match of the Day" on Saturday and Sunday nights on BBC. The best game of live football I have seen in the past four or five years was the cup final two years ago. The Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers players gave 100% on the day and the goals scored and standard of play were as good as one might see anywhere else.

The Senator is correct that every weekend thousands of Irish fans go to games in Liverpool, Manchester and Derby but only half of them go to the Irish games in Ireland. There were only 17,000 people at the FAI Cup Final in a stadium that could hold twice that number

I agree that League of Ireland football is important. Three or four former League of Ireland players are playing in the Premiership in England, and Seamus Coleman, to name one, is playing with Everton. Let me tell Members what I have seen happen to clubs in the Premiership, the investors came in and invested money, but they sold off the grounds and the fan base and destroyed the clubs. Some of these clubs in Britain were taken over by multimillionaires with multinational companies who had no real interest in football and for whom it was a part-time interest. I, like many in this country, love my football - I support Leeds United.

The Irish Sports Council, administers the funds on my behalf, to the different national governing bodies. Some €1,510,000 was allocated to support grassroots football in 2014. A sum of €333,503 was allocated to soccer education in 2014. We gave €346,330 to the FAI's emerging talent programme, so that young people with a talent are given an opportunity to broaden their horizons. Some go abroad to play football. Funding of €885,066 was allocated to support the FAI's central and regional development staff throughout the country. We do the same type of funding for GAA and the Irish Rugby Football Union. We gave €142,500 to specified elements of the FAI's women in sport programme. That is one programme that has worked. We now see an Irish player, Stephanie Roche, who I have been told scored the goal of the century, getting rave reviews this week and I hope many Irish people vote for her. I hope she wins the FIFA award.

To respond to Senator Bradford, I will talk to John Delaney at the first opportunity. I have spoken to him before and I will relay the Senator's concerns to him. I know that the Senator is a strong League of Ireland supporter and a strong supporter of Cork. I would like to see a strong League of Ireland. I am aware that the FAI has restructured the League of Ireland and the clubs, which were in serious financial difficulty. Some of the clubs are still struggling with debts from the past but the FAI has put in place good structures and does not allow them to spend more than they are actually taking in or to pay more than they can afford to players. This has worked very well. We now have 20 teams in the League of Ireland, with ten clubs in each division. It is great to see a team, such as Dundalk which had not won the league for many years, win it this year. It is great also to see Galway United come back into the premiership and Longford Town coming back up. In the past it was Dublin, Cork, Dundalk and Athlone that controlled the League of Ireland, but it is nice to see it spreading out to rural Ireland. I would like to see a stronger league in the years ahead.

I assure the Senator that I will take up the issue with the FAI, to see if there is anything that can be done. I believe we should have a stronger base for League of Ireland football. One only needs to look at the fine quality players who have developed during their career with the League of Ireland and have gone abroad. They have done very well. I would like to see the management of the Irish team try to bring on one or two League of Ireland players, and give them an opportunity with the Irish team. However, I acknowledge that every game and every victory is important.