The Football Association of Ireland welcomes the launch of the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund for 2024 following the announcement by the LSSIF Department, Minister Catherine Martin T.D., Minister Thomas Byrne T.D...

The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund is a key initiative outlined in the FAI's Facilities Investment Vision and Strategy document unveiled last year as we look to enable the growth of football in Ireland with the LSSIF a key funding opportunity to avail of.

Ministers Martin and Byrne opened a new round of LSSIF today with a €120m fund unveiled for major sports infrastructure with applications to open today until July, 1st 2024. It is required that similar access for women and men is ensured to all LSSIF-funded sports facilities in a new requirement. 

Funding of between €600,000 and €30m is available following the assessment of applications with match funding of 30% required for all projects and priority given to shovel-ready projects.

The association has urged clubs of relevant scale to consider a submission and will actively work in clubs looking to avail of funding to support their application. 
 
"We outlined last year in our Facilities and Investment Vision and Strategy, the substantial investment required in Irish football infrastructure - driven largely by the phenomenal growth of the Women's and Girls game. The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund presents a critical funding opportunity that we encourage our clubs to avail of if we're going to collectively grow the game in the country," said Interim FAI CEO David Courell. 

"There is a record number of football clubs that have been preparing for this day which is a real positive following up on a record number of applications for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. This is further validation of our Facilities Vision which has galvanised the community to maximise funding opportunities. The association (in collaboration with the relevant local authorities) are committed to supporting clubs as we look to increase the level of funding directed towards football to enable it to deliver on its full potential for society."

"It is crucially important that all relevant clubs note the announcement today by the Ministers and avail of this funding opportunity," said FAI Head of Grant Funding and Infrastructure Development Walter Holleran.

"We've already engaged with a number of clubs through our FAI/LOI Infrastructure working group who are planning submissions and actively working towards planning submissions. If there are any clubs who are planning to submit an application, we would urge them to get in touch and we'll support where possible." 

"The League of Ireland is growing year-on-year with further record attendances recorded this year to build on last year's success, which included, a record breaking 43,811 spectators at the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Final. To keep up with that growth and increased attendances, it is imperative that we improve our facilities across the league," said League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon. 

"Already this season, we saw a sell out crowd of over 10,000 attend the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division for the first time this century in the modern Tallaght Stadium and that is the standard we should aspire to across the country in order to ensure that our stadiums are accessible for all. An improvement of all facilities including training grounds and academy facilities are crucial for the future development of Irish football and the creation of a vibrant full time football industry, we will be available to support clubs through this process."