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GPA and Government Funding

Agreement between the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Irish Sports Council, GAA and GPA to recognise the contribution of Senior Inter-County Players and additional costs associated with enhanced team performance. GPA and Government Funding . Background

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GPA and Government Funding

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  1. Agreement between the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Irish Sports Council, GAA and GPA to recognise the contribution of Senior Inter-County Players and additional costs associated with enhanced team performance

  2. GPA and Government Funding Background • Minister for Finance introduced tax concessions for professional sports people in 2001 • Followed by application by GPA for Government funding to establish “parity of esteem” with other elite Irish Athletes • Indications from Government figures that funding would be forthcoming

  3. GAA PositionApproved by Ard Chomhairle in February 2007 • Supportive of Government funding for player welfare in certain circumstances • Primary objective to preserve amateur status • No GAA money or existing Government grants for infrastructure or games development to be used • Scheme to exist only for so long as Government funding for that purpose exists • All funding to be channelled and controlled through GAA structures • Agreed document sent to Government

  4. Situation in 2007 • The government continues to link payment of funding with GAA infrastructural grants. This mechanism is unacceptable to us. • Little progress due to General Election and change of Minister • GPA threaten strike action in Spring of 2008 if no progress made • Minister for Sport, S Brennan requests that a group, representative of GPA, Sports Council, Dept of Sport and GAA, bring forward proposals on a funding mechanism to resolve issue • Discussions took place throughout November • Agreement reached subject to AC approval on November 27th

  5. Terms of Agreement • Government recognises that tax relief cannot be applied to GAA players because of amateur status • 2 schemes being introduced by Govt through ISC: • To recognise contribution of Gaelic players to Irish way of life • To meet additional costs associated with competing at high level • To encourage aspiring teams to reach a high level of sporting endeavour

  6. Annual Team Performance Award • Applies to: • 12 football teams qualifying for 3rd round of qualifier series or reaching a Provincial Final • 12 hurling teams in McCarthy Cup • Level of award on sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in championship.

  7. Annual Scheme for Development of Excellence Applies to: • Remaining counties in football and hurling championships • Level of award will also be on sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in championship, Ring, Rackard and Murphy cups. • Awards designed to assist with reaching/maintaining minimum standards • No award to individuals or squads not meeting standards • Level of awards slightly less than in document previously agreed by Ard Chomhairle. Will range from approx. €2,500 to €1,400 depending on length of involvement in the championship.

  8. Criteria for Participation in Schemes • County committees, team management and players representatives will develop improvement plans with measurable goals and objectives, agreed with Irish Sports Council and consistent with national GAA coaching and games development policy. • Any inter-county squad or player may decline participation • Template will be supplied by national committee to facilitate monitoring by county committees of compliance with goals and objectives

  9. Conditions • Funding to be provided annually through ISC, separate from GAA funds • Schemes will be additional to and not negatively impact on existing or future State funding to GAA • All parties recognise that the GAA is an amateur Association and state their absolute commitment to the maintenance of the amateur status of the Association. They state that nothing in this agreement shall be allowed to undermine the amateur status of Gaelic Games • The disbursement of awards will not be administered by county committees. This will be done centrally through structures to be set up for that purpose • National committee decisions final • Schemes apply to panels of 30 players • Any tax liability the responsibility of players • Player welfare is the responsibility of the Association • Schemes subject to tri-annual review under aegis of ISC

  10. Conclusions GAA position maintained: • Primary objective to preserve amateur status • Schemes are under the aegis of ISC with direct Government funding • No GAA money or existing Government grants for infrastructure or games development will be used • Existing or future government funding will not be negatively impacted • Schemes to exist only for so long as Government funding for that purpose exists • The GPA have given a letter of assurance that they will not seek funding if Government schemes are discontinued

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