1589. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60158/26]

The Government’s current funding support for the development of football is channelled, via Sport Ireland, to the Football Association of Ireland.

The State has allocated approximately €80 million in current funding to the FAI between 2019 and 2025 to support football development and grow participation. The bulk of this funding goes towards the FAI’s Youth Field Sports grants, which are aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in football through coaching and games development supports at local level.

As part of Budget 2026, I was pleased to announce first year funding of €3 million as part of a multi-annual allocation to support the development of a modern and professional soccer academy system that will provide the structures and pathways required to support future generations of Irish players, male and female. This builds on the additional funding of €1 million provided by my Department to the FAI in 2024 which enabled it, inter alia, to produce a detailed report on the League of Ireland academies system.

While Sport Ireland is engaging directly with the FAI on the rollout of the programme, all National Governing Bodies of sport, including the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of competitions. No prescription as outlined by the Deputy has been attached as a condition of funding towards the development of the academy system.

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 clear illustration of that commitment in action.