GAA coaching for school children will cease within days, as money to fund the scheme has run out.
The Curriculum Sports Programme, which involves Gaelic and soccer coaches visiting primary schools, has been running for a decade.
Extra money to save the scheme was found on two separate occasions since the collapse of the executive in January last year.
But money will end in October, the Department of Education confirmed.
Ulster GAA provides 25 coaches, and the Irish FA 28, to work with about 450 schools a year.
About £1.3 million had been spent by the Department of Education annually.
The programme was provided under contract by the GAA and Irish Football Association (IFA) and the department invested more than £11m since it first launched.
Department permanent secretary Derek Baker met a cross party delegation earlier this year.
Mr Baker told Ulster GAA, the IFA and politicians that he had been exploring potential options within the department as to whether additional in year funding could be made available.
In the context of severe financial pressures being experienced by all parts of the education sector and the high risk of overspend, this was not possible.
He said the scheme could make a return in 2019/20, however, should money be available.
SDLP sports spokesperson Justin McNulty said he was "seething with anger".
"Today's decision not to fund the programme for the remainder of the financial year effectively calls time on an a very successful and impactful programme," he said.
"The Department of Education have failed to find the £550,000 to see the programme though to April 2019.
"The irony about the permanent secretary's letter is that whilst he cannot find money for the programme beyond the end of October, he wants to engage with the sporting bodies about the future of the programme from April 2019 and beyond. By this stage the coaches will likely have been made redundant and on the hunt for new jobs. No joined up thinking, never mind joined up government here.
"Both sporting organisations are totally maddened at this decision. The people who are failed most however are the thousands of children who will be denied participation in this programme."
The department said it recognised the contribution that the Curriculum Sports Programme had made in helping to raise the confidence of young children and the support it provides to primary teachers in delivering PE.
"The programme was not specifically intended to support the development of either Gaelic games or soccer," a spokeswoman said.
"The pressures on the education budget mean further funding cannot be made available in 2018/19 without impacting other areas of the department's budget and increasing the risk of an overspend.
"Schools taking part in the programme were allocated coaches to support the class teacher in the delivery of the sessions and in order to develop their own teaching knowledge and skills. Schools are responsible for delivering the statutory curriculum, including PE."
