Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will direct the Irish Sports Council to pay grants to GAA inter-county players in 2009; if the necessary funding has been made available to the Sports Council to pay these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12985/09]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the annual support scheme to support inter-county GAA players will continue to be funded by his Department in 2009; when a decision on such funding will be announced; the amount of such funding available in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13197/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 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.