The CEO of Sport Ireland has refused to say if he has confidence in the board of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

John Treacy has appeared before TDs and Senators on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Sport to discuss the €2.7m funding it gives to governing body of Irish soccer.

It comes after it emerged that former FAI chief executive John Delaney gave a €100,000 bridging loan to the organisation in 2017.

Sport Ireland has said it is extremely disappointed that it still has not been given an explanation for the loan.

Mr Tracey revealed he received a hand-delivered letter from the president of the FAI on Wednesday morning, responding to his questions about the loan.

FAI executive vice-president John Delaney seen at the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying round at Dublin's Aviva Stadium | Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

In the letter, the FAI said it will provide more details once a review of issues of concern is completed.

But Mr Treacy said that is not good enough.

He told the committee: "The letter does not provide any explanation on the circumstances around the loan, and its repayment.

"The board of the FAI has not provided any legitimate reason to why it cannot provide the information requested.

"In the absence of information, we cannot make any adjudication on whether the terms and conditions of grant approval have been complied with.

"We still await an explanation on the circumstances around the loan".

Mr Treacy was repeatedly asked by Sinn Féin's Imelda Munster if he has confidence in the FAI board.

He replied: "We've asked questions and we haven't got answers - and that raises serious concerns within the executive and within Sport Ireland".

Asked again if he had confidence in the FAI board, he said: "Well I'm not saying yes".

Sport Ireland approved around €2.9m in grant funding for the FAI in 2017.

Mr Delaney stepped down as FAI CEO last month, before immediately taking up a new position at the association as executive vice president.

He has since claimed he stepped into the new role because his workload was too heavy.

He said his time as CEO was divided between governing the FAI, sitting on the UEFA board and attending grass-roots football matches.

"That is just a snapshot of projects that I am now turning my attention to and it really was impossible to do the three jobs that I have just laid out to you for one person," he said.

"That is why the association commissioned an independent report - just to split the duties."