Ms Gemma Begley:

The WGPA was set up in 2015 to represent 1,500 female inter-county players across 55 squads. In December 2020, the WGPA joined its male counterparts in the GPA to became one association, which is committed to equality in Gaelic games and will actively work to pursue equal investment, recognition and opportunities for all players.

Last year, the WGPA launched the Levelling the Field report which showed that female inter-county players complete some form of training on almost six days per week; travel on average 80 km to and from their team sessions; 69% pay their own gym fees; 93% do not receive any compensation for travel costs; 85% need flexibility in their work to play inter-county; and 92% take part in club and community-based role model activity. Ultimately, the report showed that female players are committed to their sport but are out of pocket due to it.

Male players show comparable time commitment to training but receive compensation for costs incurred through a GAA-GPA expenses system and Government funding. The Covid-19 pandemic has only heightened the difficulties for female players, who are now required to travel individually to training and games to comply with the Covid guidelines. The 2020 Government grant scheme for female inter-county players allocated €700,000 to inter-county teams while male players received €3 million in individual grants. That is a funding disparity of 77%. On a per player basis, males received an average of €1,282 each, compared to €424 invested for each female.

The majority of female inter-county teams do not own their own pitch and consequently have to pay to use a GAA or public facility. These are direct costs to teams on an annual basis as a result of the organisational structures within our games. This context illustrates some of the main challenges faced by female inter-county players, namely, the individual financial strain, a lack of adequate high performance supports, barriers to accessing facilities. The latter two require Government funding to at least contribute to an improved playing environment for female players. However, the funding gap and experiences of male and female players remains significantly different.

This presents a significant opportunity for the Government to lead the way in creating equality in sport by making an equitable investment in all inter-county players. Sport Ireland is also committed to a vision for sport where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential. The female scheme acknowledges that female players are high-performance athletes in their sport who require support. Independent evaluation of the female grant scheme showed a hugely positive impact of the scheme. At the same time, it recommended an enhanced and broader allocation of funding to further improve standards.

Closing the funding gap would be due recognition of female inter-county players who are the chief exponents of our indigenous games, as well as local role models who prompt participation in sport. There would be no stronger public message on the role of women in Irish sport than acknowledgment from the State through equitable funding that our female athletes are valued equally.