GAELIC GAMES PLAYERS' GRANTS:THE GAA and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) were united in expressing their concern yesterday at the vague comments made by Minister for Sport Martin Cullen regarding the awarding of grants to intercounty players.
After a long process, the Government entered into a tripartite agreement with the GAA and GPA in 2007, awarding payments ranging from €1,400 to €2,500 last year. However, the Government’s reduction of the Irish Sports Council budget from €57 million in 2008 to €53 million has placed the players’ scheme in doubt.
Yesterday Minister Cullen reiterated his comments, made on Tuesday in Dáil Éireann, that suggested the GAA may be asked to help supplement the scheme if the Sports Council decides to continue with the allocation of payments in 2009.
Cullen also stated the final decision rests with the Sports Council, but they were unable to act or make any comment without a green light from the Minister. The Sports Council meets again on May 12th and at that juncture they may be able to bring some clarity to the situation. They were unable to confirm either way yesterday.
When asked, plainly, whether there would be any funding for the fledgling intercounty players scheme in 2009, Minister Cullen replied: “The Sports Council will have to look at the final budget and we will see how we will move forward. It is a decision for the Sports Council but obviously we will have discussion with them. It is very difficult circumstances and these circumstances have radically changed and perhaps the organisations themselves might look to see how they might be partners in what is required going forward.”
The GAA stated that funding of the expenses scheme would only work with full payment coming from the Government as to pay players would be contrary to the amateur ethos of the association.
A GAA statement added: “New GAA president Christy Cooney said that the department had always been aware that the GAA would not be contributing to the funding of the schemes and that this position had been accepted by both the department and the Gaelic Players Association when the schemes were first proposed. Cooney said the GPA, in recognition of the current economic circumstances, had already indicated they are prepared to accept a reduction in funding for the schemes but only if it is in line with reductions made to other bodies and athletes.
“Mr Cooney said that the Government itself had put the scheme in place to recognise the contribution of intercounty GAA players to Irish sport as they do not benefit from tax relief which is available for other sports people.”
The GAA highlighted a “formal commitment” from the Government in 2007 that accepted “full responsibility for the scale and continuity of the schemes and that the GAA’s Central Council had approved them only on that basis”.
Speaking at the Sports Council’s annual anti-doping function, Minister Cullen seemed to state that revenue generated from Croke Park could be used to help fund the players’ scheme as it was partially built by tax payers’ money.
“I have no issue with the GAA players being funded,” said Cullen. “They are superb athletes and they put enormous efforts into our national games. But the fact is that I don’t have the same resources to give to the Sports Council for distribution as I would in the past. And also on a broader sense the taxpayers have in the past put huge resources into major capital facilities which have the capacity to earn huge revenues, particularly the larger sporting bodies.
“And I think that it is not fair that the taxpayer should continue to fund elements that had not been funded in the past.”
Cullen called for “public debate” on the issue but it is clear he did not brief the GAA, GPA or even the Sports Council before making his recent comments. The GPA remained “hopeful” yesterday the scheme can be maintained but called for further clarification from the Government.
