GPA dismay over threat to grants

Martin Cullen made the admission in the Irish parliament on Wednesday

The Gaelic Players' Association has expressed dismay at the news that the players' grants scheme is under threat.

Minister for Sport Martin Cullen told the Irish parliament on Wednesday that future funding is in question because of the current economic difficulties.

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said he was hopeful that the scheme would continue despite the economic downturn.

He added that the players' body was prepared to accept an eight per cent reduction in funding next year.

Around 3.5 million Euro was provided to pay this year's grants but the Irish Sport Council's budget is certain to be reduced in 2009.

Minister Cullen made the admission in a Dail answer to Fine Gael TD and Mayo football manager John O'Mahony.

Last year, a deal was agreed between the Gaelic Players' Association, the GAA and the ISC to fund two schemes to meet costs for senior intercounty players.

Minister Cullen met with the GPA recently and spoke to them about the possibility of an eight per cent cut across the board in funding for the Irish Sports Council.

"We'd be prepared to work with that, but anything else would make it extremely difficult," said Farrell.

"What disappoints us is that after six years campaigning for the grants, they would come under threat so soon.

"They have become a central tenet of player welfare and will become even more so because GAA players are losing their jobs too.

"It's diappointing - this campaign was born after the 2002 Finance Bill when professional athletes got lucrative tax breaks - there was no reference to professional tax breaks today.

"That begs the question: why is it always the amateur, why is it always the GAA player?

"In light of what's gone on in Kerry, there are more and more professional standards players must adhere to.

"Players nowadays come under great media scrutiny on and off the field and we feel it's only fair the grant is provided and should be secure thereafter."

Meanwhile GAA president Nickey Brennan said it was his hope that the Government would continue to honour the terms of the agreement reached in November last year.

He added that he believed that the schemes as rolled out in 2008 had been an appropriate recognition of the contribution of senior intercounty players to the social, economic and cultural life of the nation.

He said the GAA would be talking to the GPA in the coming days in relation to the matter.