FAI welcome Community Sport Facility Fund payouts as election nears

It was also a good day for the FAI's own distressed finances as €2,004,171 was accrued in funding for seven national projects.

The FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

It’s the first round of grants since the FAI set out a €863m programme to modernise Irish football but €45.8m will have to do as a starter.

That blueprint spanned the next 15 years, seeking, on average, €34.5m per annum from centralised schemes and a further €11.5m through localised channels.

This Community Sport Facility Fund (CSFF), formerly known as the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme (SCEP), is the little sister to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructural Programme (LSSIF) due to be announced in October.

That will deliver majority funding for big-ticket stadium projects such as the Dalymount Park rebuild, Sligo Rovers’ Showgrounds, Wexford and potentially a catalyst for Drogheda United’s new arena, coincidentally in Sports Minister Thomas Byrne’s constituency.

SCEP is capped at €500,000 for what’s known as “regional” projects and the first round since 2020 rewarded applications from numerous professional and amateur clubs nationwide. Of the 564 applications, 508 were successful in obtaining with some level of payout.

Dundalk were allocated €454,228 to relay a new artificial pitch and floodlight upgrades for antiquated Oriel Park, a massive relief that smoothed last week’s takeover by John Temple.

The FAI were swift to praise successful applications for their ClubMark accredited clubs, with Moneygall FC assigned €133,923 for facilities development, Mullingar Athletic AFC securing €358,310 for a synthetic pitch and floodlights whilst Westport United will use €151,940 for a female dressing room extension with disability access.

“We look forward to working with officials from the department to progress the works covered under this grant,” said Sligo Chairman Tommy Higgins.

“These works are an integral part our Master Plan for the Showgrounds, and with funding allocations under the LSSIF expected shortly, these are very exciting times for the Sligo Rovers community as we aim to deliver a modern multi-sports stadium in the lead up to our Centenary celebrations in 2028.” 

It was also a fruitful day for the governing body’s own distressed finances, as €2,004,171 was accrued in funding for seven national projects including the Nationwide Dugout Upgrade Scheme, FAI National Centre CCTV & Video Analysis Upgrade, LOI Pitch Testing Kits & the Nationwide Schools Football Scheme, among others.

Paul Cooke, the FAI’s President since last year, used his programme notes for the England game to encourage football folk to use the upcoming election as a means of lobbying their local representatives.

"Irish football, at both professional and grassroots level across the country, needs their ministerial backing and government support and this announcement today means clubs can continue to enhance their facilities for the benefit of players and communities alike,” said Cooke.

“This funding is an essential step forward in delivering our Facility Investment Vision and Strategy to which government support is a key cornerstone."