Government announces further €1 million investment in LOI Academy Programme
League of Ireland and the FAI thank Ministers Patrick O’Donovan, Charlie McConalogue and Jack Chambers for additional funding which will strengthen player performance support, accelerate female player development and enhance technology and player care across League of Ireland Academies.
The Government has announced a further €1 million investment in the League of Ireland Academies Programme, building on the Government’s budget announcement last year and reinforcing its commitment to the development of young footballers across the country.
The additional investment will support the continued development of the League of Ireland Academy system with a focus on enhanced performance support, female player development and player care.
The funding represents a significant step forward in strengthening the environment available to young players across participating Academies, ensuring that clubs have access to the expertise, resources and technology required to support individual player development and progression.
The additional investment builds on the Government’s commitment to the League of Ireland Academy system and reflects the continued collaboration between the League of Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland, Sport Ireland and Government in supporting the long-term development of the game.
Since the initial announcement of Government investment in the 2026 budget significant progress has been made in the appointment of Academy Directors and Heads of Academy Coaching across the League of Ireland. A new Football Intelligence Platform and a Quality Assurance and Audit Programme is also now up and running and the establishment of the Women’s U16 teams in all clubs has commenced.
The League of Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland are extremely grateful for the continued support of Ministers Patrick O’Donovan, Charlie McConalogue and Jack Chambers, together with the Department of Culture, Communications & Sport and Sport Ireland. The progress we have made has been built on a genuine partnership and collaborative approach, with all parties working closely together around a shared ambition to build a stronger, more sustainable Academy system that delivers lasting benefits for young players across Ireland.
