GAA president Jarlath Burns has revealed that a ‘high performance licence’ is in the works to control spending on inter-county teams.

Donegal, Limerick, Galway and Kerry are among the counties who have splashed out over €2 million this year as the cost of preparing inter-county teams continues to spiral. The record spending comes at a time when county boards in the 26 counties have made provisions in their annual accounts to meet any tax liability with the Revenue Commissioners.

"At Congress, we have a new proposal that will redefine what it means to be an amateur athlete at elite level. It is also going to obligate counties to apply for a high performance licence to run their county teams,” said Burns, who was appearing at the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport to discuss the proposed integration of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.

"Under that, it will be populated with lots of things.

"There will be a greater framework around the close season, around the amount of money being spent, particularly given with the interest the Revenue have shown in matters around the payment of people who are around county teams.

"We hope by that evolutionary process that we start to get costs down."

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