The amalgamation of the GAA, the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association still has no timeline for completion after the latest update from the Steering Group on Integration (SGI) chaired by former president Mary McAleese.
However, the SGI has revealed an agreement on principles of the merger has been reached after "a long and intensive process of listening and engagement with all constituents".
They include that all three bodies will come under the name of the GAA, that a single membership will apply and the basic structures of club, county, province and national will remain consistent with the existing models.
Current officer roles at each unit will largely remain, including the main positions such as secretary, treasurer, children's officer. Some additional roles will be introduced to ensure all codes played in a unit are equally represented on committees and executives. Bye-laws will continue to be permitted.
Amendments will be introduced to support the new integrated association as well as "appropriate and effective representation of the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association within the rules".
A new GAA club constitution will be introduced to reflect the expanded range of playing codes in the new association. All clubs will be formally affiliated with the new GAA.
Where separate Camogie, GAA or Ladies Football clubs currently exist within the same area, decisions regarding potential mergers or amalgamations will remain at the discretion of the local units.
The approach and timing will also be determined locally.
Competitions at all levels will continue across the four codes, with enhanced coordination and integration.
The SGI said the principles provide a clear framework for a unified future while respecting the traditions, structures, and autonomy of clubs and members.
They added that guidelines are provisional in nature and will not be considered final or binding until they have been formally debated and approved by all three national congresses
McAleese has also stated there will be a need to put strategic focus on funding, possibly looking towards the female sports which have considerably inferior facilities compared to men’s, if any.
GAA president Jarlath Burns recently said the project could cost up to €500m.
She added: "If we are to remain true to our core objective of providing playing opportunities for all members of our communities, we must recognise that the full flourishing of Gaelic games is intrinsically linked to the adequacy and accessibility of our facilities.
"The future of our games will require full inclusivity, ensuring equal access for all participants.
"Inevitably, this will necessitate a strategic call on funding in due course, so that we can continue to honour our commitment to the Gaelic games family in every community."
Camogie Association president Brian Molloy did say suggestions of half a billion being being required is "nonsense", stating the figure Burns reference.
He told RTÉ Sport: "Integration is not inventing women and it's not inventing camogie or ladies football. They exist and they play on those pitches and they play in and use those dressing rooms already.
"Those dressing rooms in a lot of those pitches do need to be upgraded but the cost of upgrading that infrastructure is not a cost of integration, it's a cost of upgrading infrastructure."
Despite the goals, the SGI also confirmed they have yet to get to the stage where they can pinpoint a time to complete the amalgamation.
The year 2027 has been the target for completing the process since its launch in February 2024.
