The GPA's worst fears were realised last night when the Government announced that it does not have the EUR3.5 million required to fund the player grants scheme. Sports Minister Martin Cullen told the Dáil that the funding is no longer available and he is to outline the situation to the GPA in the coming weeks. He was responding to questions from Deputy Mary Upton who claimed that: "as matters stand, the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) is being left in limbo." The Minister said: "I am sure we would all agree that the contribution that Gaelic players make to sport in this country, particularly the sports in which they participate, is significant. "The problem I have is that this year I do not have that sum of EUR3.5 million to start with. All I have is the Irish Sports Council (ISC) grant, having regard to the reduction in it compared to last year's grant. The GPA players rightly say they will take a 10 per cent reduction like everybody else but I do not have the sum of EUR3.5 million. "If the money were to come out of the funds, it must come from the GAA or the IRFU and the FAI and they are not disposed towards providing it. The latter two sporting bodies do not see why they should fund players in a different association. They do not see that as being their role. There is no question but there is a difficulty here. "In light of the current economic constraints and the reduction in the ISC's allocation of funding in the 2009 Estimates, I am having ongoing discussions with the council on optimum funding options in order to maintain its existing programmes while building on recent progress. "The future funding of the Gaelic players schemes is being considered in that context and a final decision on the matter will be made following discussions I intend to have with the GPA shortly." In a statement issued last night, the GPA stressed that it had yet to receive any official notification of the scheme's axing, but that it would represent an 'abandonment' of inter-county players by both the Government and the GAA. The scheme was approved in 2007, but only after the players' body threatened strike action, which prompts speculation as to what their next move will be. "The scheme gave inter-county players some much-needed revenue and status, and that status would be removed if the scheme is cut," the statement read. "It would be very serious for inter-county players. GAA players are elite sportspeople. There is no escaping that inter-county hurlers and footballers have been singled out here." GAA President Christy Cooney reiterated that the future of the scheme is a matter for the Government and not for his Association. "We are not involved," he stressed. "We were involved the very first day because we supported the players getting grants, but the financial package that was available on the last occasion is a decision for both the Department of Sport and the Sports Council. And I'm sure they will convey to us in due course exactly what they are going to do. "And as long as it's there and the Government are available to give their money we'll support that fully." Tweet

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