The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) extends its congratulations to Dublin City Council & Bohemian FC, Sligo Rovers, Wexford FC and South Dublin County Council & Shamrock Rovers for their successful submissions to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). 

This crucial funding, amounting to €43.75 million directly to League of Ireland facilities, will play an instrumental role in the redevelopment of Dalymount Park and Sligo's The Showgrounds Stadium, supporting their local communities and the broader football landscape in Ireland. Wexford FC will now be able to progress their stadium development project with Wexford County Council whilst Tallaght Stadium can deliver their sustainability upgrades, including LED floodlighting.

The funding will act as a huge boost to the League of Ireland with the ongoing focus on facility development within the league to support the continued growth of attendances, highlighted by the sell-out attendances on the final day of the League of Ireland season on Friday as Shelbourne claimed the title in dramatic fashion.

The FAI also extends it's congratulations to local authority/community football related projects such as the Cavan Regional Sports Campus, Seafield Community Facility in Meath, Leitrim's Shannonside Centre and the Mayo Sports Campus in Castlebar amongst others who have received a further estimated €13.5m in funding and will support football in their local areas.

With this announcement and the recent €52.5m awarded to football projects through the Community Sport Facility Fund, football has received over €100m in 2024. The FAI Facility Investment Vision and Strategy targeted €863m over the course of 15 years as we continue to look to support the development of football facilities across the country.

In a positive move, projects who haven’t received funding have now been placed on a reserve list if further funding is made available either directly from government or successful projects having not drawn funding down. The FAI will continue to assist all applications through the FAI/LOI Infrastructure working group and wider club support and we commend the collaborative efforts of all parties involved, and expresses gratitude to the Government for recognising the value of investing in football infrastructure.

David Courell, FAI CEO, commented: “We welcome this announcement from government today and congratulate DCC/Bohemian FC, Sligo Rovers, Wexford and SDCC/Shamrock Rovers on their successful submissions. The total award to football this year represents significant progress from all parties as we look to deliver our shared vision of progressing the game at all levels across the country. We welcome a record amount of funding through the LSSIF to football and we'd like to thank Ministers Thomas Byrne, Catherine Martin, Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers for their continued support.”

Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland Director, added: “These projects are essential not only for Bohemian FC, Sligo Rovers, Wexford and Shamrock Rovers but for the continued growth of the League of Ireland as a whole. This funding is a vital step in the journey to elevating the league’s standards to new heights, aligning with our vision to create a vibrant, welcoming, and competitive environment for players, fans, and communities alike. The commitment from LSSIF brings us closer to a future where our clubs can deliver top-tier facilities. It’s an achievement that should inspire all clubs as we collectively work toward a stronger League of Ireland.”

Paul Cooke, FAI President, said: "This is an important step in the right direction and we'd like to thank the government for their support of football in 2024. Irish football is at the beginning of a journey in terms of facility development and the recent announcements of government funding, over €100m this year, is what the game needs to flourish. It is extremely important that the football community continues to make their voices heard and make sure football is a top priority for their local representative as we continue to look for support. Football has an incredible power as a community asset and we must continue to grow all of our clubs as pillars of their communities."

Walter Holleran, Head of Grant Funding & Infrastructure Development, said: “We’re delighted with today’s announcement and we remain committed to assisting all projects, both those awarded funding and those still seeking it, as each one plays an essential role in our long-term strategy. This support reflects the shared commitment to enhancing sporting facilities nationwide, providing better environments for players, supporters, and local communities.”