SPORTS COUNCIL GRANTS:TECHNOLOGY may be a cuss word as far as Fifa president Sepp Blatter is concerned but GAA director general Pauric Duffy has no such hang-ups about 21st century ideas.

While controversies continue to hound soccer, Blatter is steadfast in his refusal to consider utilising modern methods to clarify crucial issues during matches.

Many sports, including rugby union, rugby league, American football, tennis and cricket have long since embraced the concept of getting the facts straight by using TV replays.

Soccer may be standing still but Duffy has revealed the GAA is more open-minded and that director of games Pat Daly is investigating what modern advances could be utilised within the GAA.

The GAA have not been without similar disputed scores to compare with the Frank Lampard goal that was not awarded to England against Germany in the World Cup last Sunday. Technology could have helped avoid situations that emerged in the recent Galway-Offaly hurling clash that saw a point being awarded incorrectly, while a legitimate score was ruled wide.

“We are looking at technologies in terms of being able to tell whether the ball goes either side of the post. We are doing that,” said Duffy. “Pat Daly is in charge of it and we are looking at it. There is research but they are looking at it, actively looking at it. That is an issue for us.”

Duffy was speaking at yesterday’s announcement that Minister for Sport Mary Hanafin had signed off on a joint package for sport that sees €3.15 million going to the GAA, €3.61 million to the FAI and €3.06 million to the IRFU for 2010.

The three major sporting bodies came together to secure Irish Sports Council funding from the Government and Duffy believes that culture of co-operation will continue. “The fact that it was the three organisations speaking with one voice it was extremely effective. In fairness to the Department and to the Government they did listen,” he said. “The Sports Council does great work and we wanted to protect the integrity of the Sports Council. They are key figures in the development of sport. I’m happy with the allocation we’ve got.”

Duffy can see a common approach being of mutual benefit for all codes in other areas including the development of multi-purpose pitches with modern 3G surfaces. “What’s happening at the moment is that some councils are developing 3G pitches for soccer only but if local councils would develop facilities that are open to all sports we’d be very open to that,” said Duffy.

“All sports, and the GAA in particular, will always want to develop their own facilities but that doesn’t mean at the exclusion of joint-facilities. If we get back to a stage where the State can invest in infrastructure, and particularly in urban areas, it makes absolute sense to have shared facilities.”

However, the director general acknowledged economic restrictions could lead to the scrapping of plans to develop a major facility for Dublin GAA in Rathcoole.

“It would be fair to say we’re looking at that. There’s an absolute need to develop facilities in Dublin and we’re all agreed with that,” he said.

“It’s a reasonable question to ask whether Rathcoole is the place to develop as it will be expensive. Before you see out the development, there’s a huge amount of money that will have to be spent.

“We’re absolutely committed in the short term to doing a major facilities provision in Dublin, we are talking to Dublin County Board about whether Rathcoole is the place to invest in.”