Committee of Public Accounts to examine oversight and governance of Sport Ireland and Exchequer funding provided to Football Association of Ireland

Representatives of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will also be in attendance to assist the Committee in its examination of matters related to the oversight and governance by Sport Ireland and the Department of funding to the FAI.

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department led by the Secretary General and Accounting Officer, Feargal Ó Coigligh; representatives of Sport Ireland led by the CEO, Dr Una May; and representatives from the FAI led by the President, Paul Cooke, and Chief Executive, Jonathan Hill.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media supports Sport Ireland in monitoring the effective development, funding and implementation of programmes, in compliance with Government financial requirements and policy. Funding is provided through the Vote’s Programme D – Sports and Recreation Services, which had expenditure of €212.9 million in 2022. The total allocation from the Vote’s Programme D to Sport Ireland in 2022 was €147.4 million.

“Key issues for the Department are the availability of sports infrastructure in growing population centres; balance between support for elite athletes and support for general participation in sport activity; assurance of proper governance of grant-supported bodies; gender balance in sports administration; cost increases for capital development projects.

“Sport Ireland is the statutory authority tasked with leading, advocating and providing directed funding for the development of sport in Ireland. In January 2020, the Government announced a financial rescue package for the Football association of Ireland, following a governance crisis in the FAI, including admissions that the association had failed to adhere to conditions for grant funding in 2017.

“A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and the FAI for the period 2020-2023 established the framework for the restoration of funding from the Government of Ireland to the FAI. In accordance with this MoU, Sport Ireland has an obligation to monitor the financial position, internal controls and governance of the FAI.

“The Committee looks forward to examining the oversight and governance exercised by  Sport Ireland and the funding provided to the FAI from the Department through Sport Ireland, and related matters, with Mr Ó Coigligh and his officials, and the representatives of Sport Ireland and the FAI.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.