FAI the winner in sports grants

The eircom League received a €5.275m windfall today when the Sports Capital Grants were announced by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

The 2005 grants allocated €2.275m to the eircom League clubs while a further €3 million withheld in 2003 until clubs provided detailed plans on how the money would be spent, has now also been handed over.

“The allocations announced provide a real boost for domestic football,” said John Delaney, CEO of the FAI. “The game, as a whole, needs substantial funding into the future and the grants announced today make a very positive inroad into that requirement.”

“The €15 million agreed is a significant investment in the game’s infrastructure and one which we very much welcome.

“When allied to the TV initiatives agreed earlier in the year, providing the domestic game a massive increase in exposure, this huge investment gives the League a platform from which to build.

“The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, through these allocations, has given Irish football a genuine injection of capital which I’m confident will be put to very good use.”