Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to explore new mechanisms for the creation of football academies with two groups (details supplied) as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37961/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The development of football 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.

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, including €300,000 to enable it to produce a detailed report on the development of football academies. I expect that the report will include a deep baseline audit of existing academy structures and needs, which will inform the development of an academy development plan. I understand that this work is underway. .

The additional funding also enabled the FAI to recently 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 audit report in due course.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to conduct a nationwide audit of sports facilities to address shortages in areas underserved including towns with populations over 1,500 as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37962/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Reply not received from Department.