SIPTU members employed by the FAI have welcomed the announcement today (Thursday, 30th January) of an agreement by stakeholders in the organisation to increase funding to a degree which safeguards jobs and the development of community level football. Sport Ireland announced earlier today that it will reinstate its funding, which will double from €2.9 million to €5.8 million a year until 2023. The Government also said it will provide an annual €2.5 million interest free loan. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Denis Hynes, said: “Staff have welcomed the news of an agreement involving UEFA, the Bank of Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that will lead to an increase in government funding of the Association. In recent months, SIPTU representatives and members of its union committee in the FAI have been very active in working to protect jobs in the organisation and football in communities across the state. We have attended meetings with the Minister for Sport and other stakeholders where we discussed the need to safeguard our members’ livelihoods and community-based football.” SIPTU Services Division Organiser, Teresa Hannick, said: “There will be no compulsory redundancies of FAI staff. Such job losses had seemed inevitable following the disclosure of the rampant financial mismanagement of the organisation by its former senior management. SIPTU representatives will be sitting down with the management of the FAI in the coming days to discuss the future development of the organisation following today’s announcement.”
SIPTU members in FAI welcome the success of their campaign to secure extra funding
