Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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2. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any progress has been made on development of a financial support scheme for Irish women’s soccer to provide a funding scheme funding to pay a core of the top-tier women footballers, and in the process supporting both the women’s national team and the women’s national league, allowing the best players a choice of staying in Ireland rather than being forced abroad to play at a professional level. [57002/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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This is a hugely exciting time for women’s football in Ireland. The wonderful achievement of the Irish women's team in qualifying for next year’s World Cup Finals presents a real opportunity to grow the women’s game even further at all levels including the women’s national league.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) launched its 2022-2025 Strategy in February this year and developing the full potential of football for women and girls is a core objective of that strategy. I note also that a separate Women and Girls Football Development Plan is expected to be finalised shortly by the FAI and that they have recently announced a recruitment process for a Head of Women’s and Girls football to continue the development of the women’s game.

At present, Government funding for football is primarily aimed at supporting the delivery of programmes at local level, including programmes such as Football for All, Summer Soccer Schools and Late Night Leagues. Women in Sport Funding is also provided to the FAI to support participation by women and girls. €64,000 has been allocated to the FAI in Women in Sport funding for 2021 and 2022.

In accordance with the Government’s Memorandum of Understanding with the FAI, €5.8 million will be allocated to the FAI for football development each year between 2020 and 2023. From that amount, €0.8 million is to be dedicated to programmes that underpin the development of the League of Ireland and the Women’s National League.

While the issue of payments to players is a matter for the FAI, I believe that sports should endeavour to put systems and supports in place to give athletes and players the opportunity to stay in Ireland and compete at the highest level.

Sport Ireland has very recently received a proposal from the FAI seeking additional funding for initiatives that will raise the profile and standards of the Women’s National League and its players by providing an enhanced playing and training environment for Women’s National League of Ireland players and teams and this proposal will be reviewed and assessed by Sport Ireland in the normal course. Both Minister Catherine Martin and I strongly believe that Government can play a key role in accelerating the closing of the opportunity gap for women’s participation at the highest levels of sport. A range of National Governing Bodies of Sport are developing strategies in this regard and I look forward to engaging with them in the coming months.