Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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474. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the planned football academies for which funding was announced in Budget 2026. [65346/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to considering, with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), mechanisms to support the creation of football academies.

This follows on from the provision, by my Department, of an additional funding grant of €1 million to the 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 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 following engagement between the FAI and Sport Ireland, the development agency for Irish sport. I have met with Sport Ireland and the FAI on this matter and I have asked my officials to track progress in this regard.

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.