Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The funding was not specifically ring-fenced. An extra allocation was made if I recall correctly, although I was not responsible for the matter at the time. I am being perfectly frank with the Deputy. We are in very different and difficult circumstances and while I would be very pleased to allocate €3.5 million for the GAA players and would have no difficulty with that, the difficulty is that the budget, as with all other budgets, has been reduced and people are trying to find a balance in respect of where the resources should be allocated.

There are sporting areas in which we could improve. We are aware of these and are trying to support very small organisations on relatively small budgets. However, those budgets make a substantial difference in getting some of the raw athletes up to elite level. Cutting such budgets would not contribute much to the €3.5 million required. One must consider the bigger picture which I suggested in response to Deputy O'Mahony's question. I am not saying these players are not deserving of it, but others could and should step up to the plate. I do not believe the entire responsibility should be on the taxpayer. Unfortunately, we are in very different economic circumstances and I simply do not have the resources which were available in the past, nor does any other Minister.

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