Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The funding of the Gaelic players grant schemes is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, ISC, in the context of the distribution of its budget for 2009. In the agreement reached in November 2007 between my Department, the ISC, the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association, provision was made for the introduction of two schemes through the ISC to recognise the outstanding contribution of senior inter-county players to our indigenous sport by meeting additional costs associated with elite team performance and to encourage aspiring teams and players to reach the highest levels of sporting endeavour.

It was agreed that the schemes would be funded through the ISC and that the implementation of the schemes was a matter for the ISC and the GAA. An amount of €3.5 million was provided to the ISC in 2008 to fund the schemes. The ISC has statutory responsibility for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and for increasing participation in recreational sport. The council provides annual funding through the national governing bodies of sport and the local sports partnerships for programmes and initiatives aimed at achieving these objectives.

In addressing the public finances, all areas of expenditure have been examined. Following this process, the budget for sport, like all areas, has been impacted. Nevertheless the huge social and economic benefits of sport are acknowledged by this Government and are reflected in the unprecedented level of Government funding for sport over the last number of years.

In light of the current economic constraints and the reduction in the ISC's allocation of funding in the 2009 Estimates, I am having discussions with the council on optimum funding options, in order to maintain its existing programmes while building on recent progress. The future funding of the Gaelic players' schemes is being considered in that context and a final decision on the matter will be made shortly by the Irish Sports Council when it will finalise its budget allocations in the context of the recent publication of the Annual Estimates for 2009.

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