The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) say that inter-county players are out of pocket by over €4,600 annually and lose out on €3,500 in potential overtime earnings each season.
These figures are central to the players organisation's request for an increase in the government grant available to inter-county hurlers, camógie players and footballers.
The GPA wants this figure to reach an average of €2,500 per individual player which would represent a 1.5% annualised increase since 2008, when the grants were originally introduced a full 17 years ago.
The overall investment being sought by the GPA is €10 million; which the association highlights is 1.6% of the €591 million total economic impact generated by inter-county players annually.
This figure was revealed in the Indecon Report on the Social and Economic Impact of GPA Players, which was published earlier this year.
The GPA have made the submission for an increased grant to Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and the Minister and Junior Ministers for Sport Patrick O'Donovan and Charlie McConalogue in recent weeks.
Key figures underscored in their submission are that senior inter-county games generated €359 million in direct spending, supported 4,212 jobs and created €62 million in exchequer impact.
"However, in spite of this growth, the level of grant funding for male players remains unchanged since 2018," the GPA submission said.
"These figures are as a direct result of inter-county players, but it is those players who face the financial burden of the associated costs with players out of pocket by over €4,600 annually.
"Adjusted for inflation, players are €1,499 worse off than in 2018, largely due to out-of-pocket expenses for training and competing at the elite level
"Current GPA members are projected to suffer a cumulative lifetime earnings reduction of €31 million."
The initial grant scheme in 2008 was introduced to provide state recognition of the economic and social impact of amateur players.
This was in lieu of the professional sportsperson tax relief scheme, for which GAA players were not eligible.
Research by Indecon found that if the same tax relief was extended to the professional jobs of inter-county players, it would be worth an average of over €4,000 annually.
"The case for an increase in the government grant to €2,500 per player on average could not be clearer," said GPA CEO Tom Parsons. "We feel strongly that the time to act is now to show the State truly values our inter-county players."
