The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has congratulated and thanked a number of Local Authorities across Ireland on their success in securing a total of €6.7 million for projects that will directly support football clubs in community/council-owned sites and facilities. 

Through the Community Sport Facility Fund (CSFF), previously known as the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP), this funding will now add to the estimated €45.8 million recently awarded directly to football clubs nationwide, bringing the total recent investment in football facilities to an estimated €52.5 million.  

This allocation is direct to the Local Authorities who submitted applications into the SCEP (now CSFF), and the funding will directly benefit football clubs connected to Local Authority-owned facilities they use. 

These successful applications reflect the hard work and dedication of the Local Authorities in advancing football at the grassroots level, and the projects will significantly improve the infrastructure of public facilities. Below are some key projects that will benefit from this funding: 

• Cavan County Council: Cavan Astro Park – €346,000 

• Cork City Council: Sam Allen Sports Complex – €90,000 

• Dublin City Council: Brickfield Park 7-a-Side All-Weather Pitch – €100,000 

• Dublin City Council: Kildonan Park All-Weather Pitch – €496,000 

• Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council: Kilbogget Floodlights – €113,367 

• Fingal County Council: Rush Athletic Artificial Pitch – €124,412 

• Galway City Council: Castle Park Synthetic Pitch – €500,000 

• Monaghan County Council: Belgium Park – €111,453 

• South Dublin County Council: St Cuthberts Park MUGA – €177,522 

FAI CEO David Courell said: “We would commend and thank the local authorities for their successful applications, this will bring lasting benefits to our football clubs and also, their respective communities. This funding is further proof that our Facilities Vision and Investment Strategy, to which local authority support is an important funding vehicle, is beginning to deliver material benefits, providing clubs with the resources they need to thrive and creating a lasting legacy for football in Ireland. 

“We are especially grateful to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, for his continued support in promoting community sports facilities. A special thank you goes to the local authority staff who worked tirelessly on these applications, delivering much-needed improvements to football facilities across Ireland.  

“We would again like to thank Minister Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education, and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, for this record allocation of funding to sport, of which football has now benefitted from an estimated €52.5 million. This support is crucial in driving the development of football facilities nationwide, ensuring that communities have access to top-class infrastructure and we’re looking forward to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Funding (LSSIF) announcement later this week.” 

Walter Holleran, FAI Head of Grant Funding & Infrastructure Development said: “These successful applications are a testament to the dedication of Local Authorities in improving public football facilities. This funding will help us create inclusive, modern spaces where football can thrive at all levels. We are building a strong foundation for the future of Irish football, and these projects are essential to ensuring that every community can benefit from better infrastructure and more opportunities to engage in the sport.” 

“We believe our football clubs play a crucial part in their locality as a community hub and investment in this area is important to grow the game and benefit the surrounding area.”