Cooney rules out GAA player funding

GAA President Christy Cooney has said the Association will not be contributing to players' funding schemes.

Cooney expressed concerns at comments reportedly made by Sports Minister Martin Cullen yesterday, which suggested the taxpayer couldn't continue to pick up the entire cost of grants to inter-county footballers and hurlers.

The newly-installed president has said that responsibility for funding of the schemes is solely a matter for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Payments to players were introduced towards the end of 2008, with monies coming from ring-fenced Government funds through the Irish Sports Council.

However, given the significant changes to the economic landscape since, that arrangement is now in jeopardy as the Government look to curb spending.

Speaking in today's Irish Independent, Minister Cullen confirmed: 'The taxpayer cannot continue to pick up the entire cost of this scheme in drastically changed economic circumstances.

'I am trying to be fair and I am not saying "No". However, I am clearly signalling that the resources required to continue the scheme at the level previously anticipated are not there.'

Earlier this month, Gaelic Players' Association chief executive Dessie Farrell insisted that the GAA would not make up the difference if the Government input fell.

He said: 'Part of the agreement was that that would not be the case if funding was to be withdrawn and we will be true to our word.'