Anyone know how much Utd will get in the latest grants
from the Sports Council? Will it be enough to build us our
new stand, or what will it be used for? This report was
reliesed today on the FAI.ie website::
FAI Statement - 21st July 2005
The Football Association of Ireland and the eircom League
today welcomed the Sports Capital Grants annoucement by
the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue TD.
The Department today announced an allocation of €12 million
for 2005 in addition to which allocations were made from 2003
of €3 million totalling €15 million for investment in Irish football.
eircom League clubs were allocated €5.275 million from the €15
million.
"The allocations announced today provide a real boost for
domestic football," said John Delaney, CEO of the FAI. "The
game, as a whole, needs substatial funding into the future
and the grants announced today make a very positive inroad
into that requirement” he added. “The €15 million agreed today
is a significant investment in the game’s infrastructure and one
which we very much welcome”, said Delaney.
The €5.275 million allocated to the 16 eircom League clubs
today is in addition to the €2m allocated from 2002 to St.
Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk FC which can now be drawn down.
“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”, Delaney added. “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”, he concluded.
The Chairman of the eircom League, Paddy McCaul said that
League clubs were making significant progress with their
development plans and today’s news would provide them with
a great lift. “eircom League clubs have committed to substantial
investment under their infrastructural plans as part of the FAI’s
Club Licensing process. Today’s funding commitment is recognition
of the substantial work being undertaken by the clubs as they
continue their investment in improved facilities for players and
spectators”, he added.
“In many cases substantial and ongoing investment is needed to
bring the facilities into line with supporters growing expectations
and today’s sporting requirements”, McCaul added. “The funds
now available will enable clubs to continue their development
programmes with a greater degree of certainty”, he said.