THE GPA will receive €6.9m from Sport Ireland to support inter-county footballers and hurlers over three years.
Details of the new deal were revealed this morning in Croke Park, and will see the level of funding incrementally increased between 2017 and 2019.
The agreement will see funding of €1.6m provided next year, increasing to €2.3m in 2018 and then €3m in 2019.
It represents a significant increase from the €900,000 deal currently in place, but it’s understood that the GPA was seeking a higher return than it achieved.
The money from the new deal will be provided to the GAA, who will then work with the GPA to decide how it is best spent.
Earlier this year, a new three-year deal was struck by the GAA and GPA that will see a minimum of €6.2m per year go towards funding inter-county players and the GPA’s player development schemes.
€2.7m of that figure will go directly to the players for mileage and nutritional expenses, with the rest passed to the GPA.
It’s not yet clear how and where the government funding will be spent, but it will be distributed separately and on top of the GAA-GPA agreement.
Dessie Farrell, who recently stepped down as the GPA’s CEO but negotiated this agreement, said: ‘This new arrangement will facilitate the development of an important programme between government and players in tackling some of the more intractable societal challenges in Ireland today.
“This will happen through a more targeted approach and will leverage the role model status of many of our top county players to influence positive change.
“Players look forward to taking an even more prominent role in making a meaningful difference, particularly, in the lives our young people across the country.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny added: “The agreement provides continued recognition for the contribution of Gaelic inter-county players to the economic and social fabric of the nation.
“Our inter-county players showcase the skill, excellence and commitment of our national games at home and abroad. They train hard to become the best they can be, in order to do their county, their town or their parish proud.
“As well as promoting increased levels of physical activity, our Gaelic players can act as important role models in a number of other key policy areas at local and national level.
“These include the promotion of mental health well-being, the fight against obesity and the prevention of alcohol and drugs misuse. I look forward to the continued support of our inter-county footballers and hurlers in these and other areas and as role models which young people can emulate.”