Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment and giving me the opportunity to address the issue.

In the agreement reached in November 2007 between the then Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Irish Sports Council, the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association, provision was made for the introduction of two schemes to recognise the outstanding contribution of senior Gaelic inter-county players to our indigenous sports, by meeting additional costs associated with elite team performance and to encourage aspiring teams and players to reach the highest levels of sporting endeavour. In return it was agreed that the players would involve themselves in a number of social responsibilities, including working in close co-operation with the local sports partnerships on a programme of visits to schools and club facilities as a part of an overall policy to increase participation in their sports.

It was agreed that the schemes would be funded through the Irish Sports Council and would be administered through the council and the GAA. An amount of €3.5 million was provided to the Irish Sports Council in 2008 to fund the schemes.

I indicated recently in response to parliamentary questions in this House that the drastically changed economic circumstances means that the taxpayer cannot continue to fund the entire cost of schemes such as the Gaelic players schemes as the resources are no longer available. I have discussed this issue with the Irish Sports Council and the GAA. I met Dessie Farrell, chief executive of the GPA together with his colleagues Kieran McGeeney and Donal Óg Cusack on Monday last with a view to agreeing a sustainable new scheme that would recognise the outstanding contribution of Gaelic players to our indigenous sports. We had a robust exchange of views in an honest and open atmosphere. I explained to the GPA the difficulties that both my Department and I faced in the current economic climate. It fully understood and accepted those difficulties. I explained my view that the scheme as originally constituted was no longer viable. However, I am anxious to address the main concern of the players, which is recognition of the contribution that they make to the culture and traditions of this country. In that context I want to put in place a scheme that is sustainable and will provide that recognition.

I want as many sports as possible to be funded within the limits of the resources available to me to ensure the continued strategic development of sport. I would like to see a scheme agreed with the GPA that would reflect that ambition. To put this in context, as the Deputy knows we funded athletes directly. The total cost of the other 16 sports that we fund, which is quite extensive and goes directly to athletes and not NGBs, is €2 million. What I have proposed to the GPA is a very generous and worthy scheme. I hope its members will reflect on that.

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