Sport & the arts score funds

GAA & FAI grants as more artists to get weekly €325

- KEITH FALKINER

SPORT and the arts were two of the big winners out of Budget 2026 with a range of extra funding and grants announced.

The Football Association of Ireland will receive €3million for academies at clubs.

It falls short of the €4.45million it requested but still represents a major boost.

The administration of the multi-annual funding will come through Sport Ireland rather than the FAI.

An FAI spokesman said: “It will create full-time academy roles across League of Ireland clubs, providing the high-performance environments our most talented boys and girls need to thrive”

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said the funding would be part of a €10.7million increase in funding for Sport Ireland and represented the start of a multiyear commitment to fund grassroots football.

He added that, despite Ireland's proud history in soccer, youth development structures have not kept pace with other countries.

ELITE

The GAA will also gain with Government grants for inter-county players increasing to an annual average of €1,800.

This means the total fund for player grants next year will be €7.2 million, up from €5.6million last year with 2024's average grant coming in at €1,471 per player.