Football funding and support
Deputy Smith says Ireland’s football structures are underfunded and urges greater support for the game. The Minister promises a record sports capital allocation and says football will benefit significantly.
The European football championship begins tomorrow and the Republic of Ireland will not have a team there. We do not have a permanent manager. It has been nearly a year since the Labour Party brought the first ever debate on football and grassroots football funding into this Dáil. Football is still the most widely played sport in the country, and despite the vibrancy of the League of Ireland and great moments and achievements of our women's football team in recent years, both sections of that football world would say it is not down to but in fact is in spite of the level of funding given at grassroots level. When will this Government and the State take football seriously in this country and give it the investment it deserves for the many girls, boys and young people who are thriving? We spoke about the funding the horse and greyhound industries get. We need to see funding for our other sports not just through the sports capital grant but through a proper plan for the development of football - the beautiful game - in our country.
Comment on this
It is a pity we will not be at the Euros but we will enjoy the football nonetheless. The Government is fully committed to supporting the development of football in Ireland. There will be an announcement of a record allocation of sports capital grants in the next number of months by the Minister, Deputy Martin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. Football will be a major beneficiary of that. I know we have had a memorandum of understanding between the FAI and the Government. My understanding is that there is not one in place at this time but the discussions have been under way. They need to be concluded so we can put in place longer term arrangements for funding because we have extraordinary talent. I see it every weekend in the young boys and girls at the matches I go to. We have fantastic academies in our League of Ireland clubs. They need greater support and funding but the key to unlocking that is to have an MOU in place. We need to get that memorandum agreed so the Deputy might use his influence to help us in that regard.