Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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575. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position in relation to the provision of public funding for League of Ireland soccer academies; if he will set out for each year since 2020 the amount of public funding that has been provided for the academies, broken down by League of Ireland club where possible; if there are any plans to significantly increase the financial support for academies in order that full-time coaches can be employed to develop the elite underage football talent that exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16642/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The development of football academies is fundamentally a matter for the FAI, which, like all National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), is an independent, autonomous body that is responsible for the organisation and development of its own sport, including player development.

While the FAI has sought significant State funding to support its academies' development plans, it is important to note the sizable financial support directed to the FAI and to football more generally over the past few years.

Over €75 million in State funding has been allocated to the FAI between 2019 and 2024, including €30.2 million specifically to support football development and aimed at promoting participation in football by young people, with the balance in funding comprising Covid-specific and energy supports to the FAI and the wider football sector.

In terms of State support for the development of facilities, more than €100 million in capital funding was allocated to Irish football in the second half of 2024.

Under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, €54.4 million was allocated in November 2024 to football stadium projects at Finn Harps, Dalymount Park, Sligo Rovers and Wexford FC.

In addition, €50.6 million was allocated from the Community Sports and Equipment Fund in 2024 to support the development of grassroots club football facilities nationwide.

Considerable additional financial support has been provided by the State for the development of football in Ireland, particularly through the 2020-2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the FAI. The MOU provided for a package of funding of €5.8 million per annum to the FAI during that 4-year period up to 2023 for football development. A new MOU was signed on 17 December 2024, which has increased State funding to the FAI to €6 million per annum for the period 2024-2027.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to explore new mechanisms for the creation of football academies with the FAI and the League of Ireland.

An important piece of work in this context is supported by an additional funding grant of €1 million to the FAI in 2024. This funding will enable the FAI, inter alia, to produce a detailed report on the development of football academies, building on its submission to my Department in Autumn 2024. I expect that the report will include a deep baseline audit of existing academy structures and needs, and that this will inform my consideration of the Programme for Government commitment.

The funding will also enable the FAI to appoint an Academies Administrator, to support the development of new academy programmes and to track their impact.

I look forward to further engagement with the FAI on this topic and to receiving the further detailed report that my Department has funded.