GPA campaign to keep Government Funding

The GPA has commenced a nationwide campaign to have the Government Funding Scheme for inter-county GAA players retained by asking all their members to contact their local TDs and Senators.

The GPA has previously stated that it will accept any necessary cuts to the scheme in line with all other recipients of sports funding. However, the GPA will not accept the sacrifice of the GAA players scheme to facilitate support for other codes, a move which we would regard as discriminatory.

The fundamental basis for the scheme was to afford parity of esteem for amateur inter-county hurlers and footballers with elite amateur athletes in other codes and professional Irish sports men and women who are entitled to tax concessions on their career earnings. This was acknowledged in the 2007 agreement with the Government.

The GPA wish to highlight the importance of GAA inter-county games to the Exchequer, particularly when considering the cross-border economic activity involved in the success of Ulster teams in the football championships this decade.

The GPA will also be inviting all TDs and Senators from Dáil Éireann to an informal meeting with players shortly to discuss the position of Government Funding and to present a petition to the Government on behalf of every squad in Ireland.