Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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99. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the progress made under the Memorandum of Understanding between his Department and an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the reform of grassroots football league structures; if his Department has engaged with the organisation regarding the impact of league instability; the t supports being considered to ensure that children and teenagers, particularly in areas such as Fingal, continue to have access to viable and competitive local youth football leagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24545/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Considerable financial support has been provided by the state to the FAI (the organisation referred to in the details supplied) in recent years, totalling over €75 million between 2019 and 2024, including €30.2 million specifically to support football development.

This was substantially delivered through the 2020-2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the FAI which provided for a package of funding of €5.8 million per annum to the FAI during that 4-year period for football development.

The 2020-2023 MOU not only provided the association with financial stability but also allowed it to make significant progress regarding governance reform, with 159 of the 163 (98%) MOU recommendations and conditions either completed or partially completed.

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. This new MOU will allow the FAI to further progress its corporate governance reform agenda, while at the same time giving it the financial support needed to continue to develop football across the country.

The 2024-2027 MOU contains 16 conditions of funding to ensure the FAI continues to implement governance reform. Those conditions do not however extend to reforming football league structures. The structure of league football is fundamentally a matter for the FAI, which, like all National Governing Bodies of sport, is an independent, autonomous body that is responsible for the organisation and development of its own sport, including the organisation of their games and tournaments.