John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he informed the Gaelic Players Association, at a meeting in June 2009, that the player grants scheme as operated in 2008 will not be implemented in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28308/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he proposed a player grant scheme to the Gaelic Players Association in June 2009 that would apply only to players on teams that reach the final stage of the championship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28309/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

In the agreement reached in November 2007 between the then Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Irish Sports Council (ISC), 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.

It was agreed that the schemes would be funded through the ISC and would be administered through the Council and the GAA. An amount of €3.5 million was provided to the ISC in 2008 to fund the schemes. As I have previously indicated to the House, the drastically changed economic circumstances means that the taxpayer cannot continue to fund the entire cost of schemes such as this.

I have discussed this issue with the ISC and the GAA. I met representatives of the GPA on 29th June 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 facing my Department 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 provides 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 €2million. What I have proposed to the GPA is a very generous and worthy scheme. I hope its members will reflect on that.