Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the Government intends paying grant-in-aid to inter-county GAA players; the specific financial assistance that is provided to amateur players; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11134/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 611: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the funding for GAA players in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11161/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has made funding available to the Irish Sports Council to provide funding for GAA players in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11162/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the Government Funding of inter-county GAA players; if his attention has been drawn to the contribution that they make to the sporting life of their communities; if he will continue to make this funding available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11181/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his position on State funding for intercounty GAA players; if his attention has been drawn to the need to provide clarity on this issue for those players who have lost their jobs and are now considering their future; his views on whether in the economic depression that it is vital to keep intercounty players in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12060/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 to 613, inclusive, and 620 together.

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 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.