John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he will make an announcement regarding the payment of grants to inter-county GAA players for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16552/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I was hoping the Minister would say the grants would be funded or even reduced by a certain percentage. I thank the Minister for his assurance that the Irish Sports Council will make a decision shortly. Is that correct?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is the council's call. It will decide how to distribute the budget.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I think the Minister will agree that the grants were instituted by his predecessor, who saw the need for them. Gaelic players have spoken to Deputies and other people who are involved. They are anxious but very reasonable in their approach. They would be willing to accept cuts similar to those applying in other areas of sport. High performance athletes are losing their jobs or are unable to work flexible hours because of their commitment to Gaelic games. No one would suggest that this scheme would keep them from emigrating but it would be another support structure.

Given the circumstances the Minister has outlined, would he like to see the grants retained?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to fund everybody. Unfortunately, budgets have contracted somewhat. It is a matter for the Irish Sports Council to provide funding to as many bodies as it can.

The taxpayer has, rightly, provided huge resources to the three major sporting bodies, particularly in Croke Park, Lansdowne Road and Thomond Park. That has allowed those bodies to generate enormous profits. They have the ability to generate substantial sums of money while many other organisations do not have that facility. I pose this question. As the generosity of the taxpayer has provided so much money to those bodies, could they, perhaps, look to this matter? The GAA, for example, has stated publicly that it is, and wishes to remain, primarily responsible for player welfare. As Deputy O'Mahony has said, this is a very important issue of player welfare. There is a challenge here for the organisation to respond to the extraordinarily different economic circumstances in which we find ourselves.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister suggesting that the GAA should fund these grants because of the revenue these players generate?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The taxpayer cannot continue to pick up the entire cost of this scheme in drastically changed economic circumstances. I am trying to be fair and I am not saying "No". However, I am clearly signalling that the resources required to continue the scheme at the level previously anticipated are not there. I place that in juxtaposition with the huge earning capacity of the three major sporting organisations, which the taxpayer helped to fund, and I ask who has the primary responsibility in this area.