The LSSIF has been an important fund. The current national sports strategy, published in 2018, identified the need to establish a LSSIF at Government level. Outside the community sports facilities fund, there were many projects of scale that simply could not get the funding together to allow them to happen. That was a real gap in our national support network. We have had two rounds so far. The first was in 2019 and the second was in 2024. As I say, over 60 projects have been supported as a result and the Deputy has…

I could not agree more with the Deputy. Communities do not thrive if they do not have the sporting and community infrastructure. Increasingly, and more than ever, sport is central to having healthy communities. The project in Carrigaline is exactly the type of project we want to come forward across the country. I am certainly happy to meet those involved in relation to their plans the next time I am in Cork. I will also engage further with the Deputy in that regard. The Deputy made a point about planning. It is an …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 143, 159 and 179 together. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. As she knows, the operation of the League of Ireland and its academies is driven by the Football Association of Ireland, which, like all governing bodies, works independently. It is like all the governing bodies that we, in the Government, want to support. I agree with the Deputy that it has been wonderful to see the growth of, and the momentum behind, the League of Ireland. It is great that every Friday nigh…

I noticed that. The Deputy is ready for the matches ahead and will not have to buy anything new. We are all at one. We agree. It has been heartening and energising to see what has been happening at League of Ireland level. It feeds down to the grassroots and inspires young people. The wonderful thing about football is that people can play one-on-one or two against two. All that is needed is a couple of jumpers and a back garden or park for people to come together. It is a wonderful sport for participation. We want …

I thank Deputy Currie. We want to make sure the investment we are making through academies is used to the best effect possible. The FAI is working, with the guidance of Sport Ireland, to use its experience to ensure that system is structured in the best way. It is also working with premier and first division clubs to see how we can make sure there is good regional reach in terms of academies. Another development over the next couple of months is the development of a tier three for the League of Ireland, which is a …

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Everyone involved in sport, in any capacity, regardless of age, should be able to enjoy an experience that is free from any form of abuse. The creation of a culture that promotes the safety and welfare of all must be at the core of the operation of all sports, from national governing bodies right down to grassroots and fans and spectators. Sport Ireland is the statutory authority for the development of sport in Ireland and its statutory function with regard to safeguarding…

I thank Deputy Moynihan. We have supported Sport Ireland in the development of this in the first instance. Sport Ireland provides governance and administration guidance for the sport sector, and the findings from the review will be factored into and incorporated into that. Obviously, there will be lessons and assessments from the report. It is key they are utilised in day-to-day practice. Sport Ireland will ensure that happens as part of its overall governance and administration guidance for the sport sector. Regar…

Referees are absolutely crucial for the participation of teams. They often find themselves in roles that are not as respected as they should be. In terms of providing a safe environment for adults, the role of referees has to be central in the report and to how we provide that environment in sport. Some sports have a much better ethos and culture than others. We have to work to get to a situation where that is uniform across the board in relation to referees. They have a very difficult role. It is one into which pe…

While it would be my wish that athletes from all parts of Ireland should have the choice to represent the whole of Ireland at all major international competitions, as is the case at the Olympic Games, neither the Government nor Sport Ireland has a role in determining who can participate in international competitions organised by international sporting federations. International sporting federations are responsible for determining the composition of their membership, in line with their own internal rules. The intern…

I thank Senator Scahill for raising this matter today. Communications infrastructure across the country has seen significant investment of over €5 billion over the last eight years. These investments over that time by both the State and commercial operators ensure that Ireland has access to the latest digital infrastructure, whether that is 5G mobile connectivity or gigabit fibre networks. These investments also ensure that our networks are more resilient than ever before. Notwithstanding that, Storm Éowyn had an u…

I thank the Senator. I will certainly ask my officials to come back to him on the point he has raised. We must ensure that where wires are in an unsafe position, the companies responsible engage, take action and ensure they are made safe. There is significant work happening at the moment to road test and stress-test our networks. We are stress-testing poles. I outlined earlier that 1.1 million poles have been stress tested and many have been replaced where they were found to be unsuitable. It is crucial for that wo…

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this matter. What happened in Oriel Park on Friday evening was an abhorrent and criminal act. It involved taking flares to the stadium, setting them alight and throwing them onto the pitch. It led to a very tragic injury to a young 12-year-old boy. All of our thoughts are with him and his family for his recovery. Our thoughts are also with those who were distressed by what happened on the night. What we saw was criminal damage to a wonderful new facility. We must stamp out that b…

I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it has been fantastic to see people of all ages and families coming to League of Ireland matches and the growth both in Premier Division and First Division attendances, and indeed, as well as the introduction of a new third tier to the League of Ireland, which will happen imminently. That is something that we want to see encouraged. It is down to the quality of the product on the pitch as well. One of the side effects of Brexit has been that we are seeing our young players st…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am glad to be able to update her on behalf of the Department on appropriate commemorative funding programmes available through the commemorations unit of the Department. She laid out very well the background and history to this event. I encourage her to engage further with the commemorative unit in the Department after this. There are four pillars through which historical events can be marked and remembered including State commemoration, artistic expression, historical…

Yes.

Yes, that is for this year.

I do not know at this point.

Yes.

I thank the Senator again for bringing up the matter today and explaining the background and history of these events and the people involved so well and respectfully. The State collectively, because of the collaborative approach we have taken, has dealt with this well in recent years and there is capacity through the commemoration co-ordinators in the local authorities. A number of people from different counties were involved, but they will have the capacity to engage and consult one another on any proposal that mi…

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising what is an important issue for him, for the public and for those availing of respite services in County Monaghan. I am happy to take this matter this morning on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley. She thanks Senator Gallagher for raising this and offering me the opportunity to respond on her behalf. Respite services are a vital support, and being cognisant of the significant unmet need in this area, the Government has provided subst…