The GAA submits an end of year report to Sport Ireland which includes details of grant payments made to individual football and hurling panels playing at inter-county level. This end of year report is not yet available for 2016, as it has not yet been submitted to Sport Ireland by the GAA. Sport Ireland expects to receive it shortly.
While I did not have a direct consultation with the Taoiseach in the matter, I support the recognition that the new funding scheme gives to the unique contribution that GAA inter-county players make. My Department is currently in the process of elaborating the detail of the multi-annual programme for 2017 to 2019, in consultation with Sport Ireland. It is envisaged that the programme will centre on a programme involving GPA (Gaelic Players' Association) representatives lending their support to a variety of initiatives linked to the health and societal benefits of sport and physical activity.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding to bodies engaged with amateur sports, including the National Governing Bodies of sport. I have therefore referred this aspect of the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
