Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak about a group of 44 talented footballers who were signed a number of months ago to play for Limerick FC under-15 and under-17 League of Ireland teams. This was obviously a moment of great pride for players and families, as were their successful campaigns in phase 1 of this season. They have qualified for phase 2, the first games of which took place last weekend. However, the club's owner very suddenly withdrew both squads from their respective leagues just before phase 2 began. The teenage players and their parents do not know why. All they know is that a summer of great excitement, pride and celebration has been utterly tainted and destroyed by the powers-that-be at the drop of the hat. Their coaches and parents have reached out to the FAI to intervene, but to no avail. The same coaches and parents would do anything that is required to make it happen, including contributing to the costs. These players did not commit to sport or football today or yesterday. They have been building toward a spot on a League of Ireland underage squad for the best part of ten years. Family occasions, birthday parties and commitments to other sports have been sacrificed by these young athletes, all with the end game of signing for a team and playing for a League of Ireland club.

We all know the benefits of young people being involved in sport. Young men in particular stand to gain so much from an involvement in sport and the discipline and resilience acquired in a high-performance sports setting. The FAI is currently designing its new academy structure, with plans for academies around the country for both boys and girls. Just down the road from Limerick, in Ennis, a councillor recently suggested setting up another club in Ennis, but there was no point in reinventing the wheel if current clubs and academies are operating on such an ad hoc basis as what we are about to see in Limerick. It is a real shame this situation has transpired. What can be done to salvage this playing season for these teenage boys from Limerick, Kerry and the surrounding areas? There must be a way for the club and the FAI to take an athlete-centric approach to this. One parent I spoke to this afternoon said his son is broken and is contemplating giving up soccer. There are 44 elite teenage players with no prospect of playing summer football this season. It is not good enough.