Grants issue is resolved

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• News At One: Séamus Brennan, Minister for Sport, says €3.5m will be added to the Sports Council budget to disburse to the GAA for player development
• News At One: Con Hogan, GAA representative at the talks, says the grants are not a payment for play scheme

Following extensive negotiations between the GAA, the Gaelic Players Association and the Government, the dispute over grants for inter-county player has been resolved.

A sum of €3.5 million will now be provided to fund an Annual Team Performance Scheme and an Annual Support Scheme for inter-county GAA players, meaning the prospect of inter-county players going on strike has almost certainly now been averted.

GAA president Nickey Brennan said: ‘I am pleased that the issue of recognition for GAA players has been addressed.'

Brennan said that from a GAA perspective: ‘the Association's core concerns had been addressed - the protection of the Amateur Status, the payment of funds from the exchequer clearly defined as sports awards and the commitment that GAA funding generally would not be negatively impacted on in any way.’

He also said that 'the proposal will however require the ratification and approval of Central Council and it will be placed on the agenda for its December meeting.'