§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy not to draw from the £8 million Soccer Strategy budget the money required to bring the Windsor Park stadium up to the required standard to permit the World Cup qualifying matches against England and Wales to be held at the stadium. [170202]
§ Angela SmithTo date, no element of the £8 million Soccer Strategy budget has been earmarked for Windsor Park. However, an indicative sum of £3 million has been earmarked from Soccer Strategy monies for playing facilities generally. Bringing Windsor Park up to the required standard for the World Cup qualifiers against England and Wales could be considered as part of the playing facilities component of the Strategy but I would emphasise that responsibility for resolving any deficiencies at Windsor Park, and identifying appropriate sources of funding for that purpose, rests with the IFA and the owners of the venue.
§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated to bring Windsor Park stadium up to the required standard to permit the World Cup qualifying matches against England and Wales to be held at the stadium. [170203]
§ Angela SmithResponsibility for bringing Windsor Park stadium up to the required standard to permit the World Cup qualifiers against England and Wales to be held at the stadium tests with the governing body of Football in Northern Ireland, the Irish Football Association (IFA), and the owners of Windsor Park, Linfield FC. As no request for Government funding has been received either from the IFA or Linfield FC for this purpose, no Government money has been allocated.
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§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the nature is of the relationship between Windsor Park and the Northern Ireland international football team in relation to the staging of international fixtures. [1702051
§ Angela SmithResponsibility for staging international football matches rests with the Irish Football Association (IFA). Under an agreement, between Linfield Football Club and the IFA the home internationals are staged at Windsor Park.
§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government assistance has been provided for the Irish Football Association's youth development programme through its School of Excellence. [170244]
§ Angela SmithGovernment has provided via the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, a £1.6 million funding package for the Irish Football Association's (IFA) Youth Development Programme over a three-year period. This funding package is directed to the IFA's Football Development Centres rather than a School of Excellence. So far 25 youth Football Development Centres, have been established across Northern Ireland with a total spend of £1.2 million to date.