Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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967. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide details on the €3 million in funding provided in budget 2026 for League of Ireland academies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60033/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Further to a commitment in the Programme for Government to consider how the development of football academies might be best supported, an additional funding grant of €1 million was provided by the Government to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in 2024.

This funding has enabled the FAI to appoint an Academies Administrator to support the development of new academy programmes and to track their impact. The grant has also enabled the FAI to produce its League of Ireland Global Findings Report on developing football academies in Ireland, including an audit of existing academy structures and needs.

The report outlines 50 recommendations which, if implemented in the coming years, should create a strong Academy system that would underpin a sustainable domestic football league and, ultimately, strengthen the quality of players coming through to the national teams.

As part of Budget 2026, I was pleased to announce a €3 million multi-annual allocation to the FAI to support the development of a modern and professional academy system that will provide the structures and pathways required to support future generations of Irish players, male and female, and maximise the potential of Irish football.

Specific details regarding how this investment will be channelled will be set out in due course by the FAI and Sport Ireland.

The Government is committed to supporting the development of Ireland’s sporting ecosystem and the support that continues to be provided for football is a key example of that commitment in action.