Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must honour election commitments to increase investment in sport – Senator Chris Andrews

Sinn Féin Seanad spokesperson on Sport, Senator Chris Andrews, today questioned why Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have backtracked on their election commitments to increase the betting levy for the benefit of Irish sport. 

Senator Andrews called on the Government to stop putting the interests of the gambling industry ahead of the interests of our communities. 

Seanadóir Andrews said: 

“Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael made commitments in their manifestos to increase the betting tax from 2% to 3%, and to use this funding for investment in sport. 

“In the Programme for Government, however, this commitment strangely vanished. No mention of the betting tax, and no mention of additional capital investment in sport infrastructure and academies.

“A 1% increase in this levy would have raised approximately €50 million of desperately needed funding for Irish sport. 

“This commonsense move would help address the chronic underfunding that has occurred over recent decades and enable investment in the facilities and academies that are vital for participation and success in sport.

“If Ireland has the ambition to succeed at an international level, we must commit to building a football industry from the grassroots up. 

“We need to invest in community facilities and academies, and ensure that the League of Ireland is supported and enabled to achieve its potential. 

“This isn’t about Irish football receiving state handouts, but about investing in local and national infrastructure that will deliver long-term benefits for our society and economy. 

“A modest increase to the betting tax is a very simple first step towards achieving that goal.”