Football

Rates waived for GAA clubs in the North for April, May and June but only 'deferred' in the Republic

With financial streams from fundraising, lotto, gate receipts, gym memberships and bars all cut off due to the COVID-19 lockdown, clubs in the North will not have to pay rates for April, May and June this year
With financial streams from fundraising, lotto, gate receipts, gym memberships and bars all cut off due to the COVID-19 lockdown, clubs in the North will not have to pay rates for April, May and June this year With financial streams from fundraising, lotto, gate receipts, gym memberships and bars all cut off due to the COVID-19 lockdown, clubs in the North will not have to pay rates for April, May and June this year

WITH financial streams from fundraising, lotto, gate receipts, gym memberships and bars all cut off due to the COVID-19 lockdown, GAA clubs in the North will not have to pay rates for April, May and June this year.

GAA clubs in the Republic have been offered financial assistance too but their commercial rates have only been deferred (not waived) for March, April and May and the GAA has stated that “those that can afford to pay should continue to do so”.

Meanwhile, for VAT registered clubs in the North, payments have been postponed for the next three months up to June 2020 while, across the border, it has been confirmed that revenue commissioners will apply no interest or late payment charges for VAT for the January/February period.

A GAA advisory statement to clubs added: “All VAT returns must continue to be submitted as normal (in the Republic) and late payment shall not alter the club’s tax clearance status. All current Revenue debt enforcement has been suspended until further notice.”

There is also news for GAA employees in both jurisdictions. In Northern Ireland, if a club has employees to be laid off they can be designated as furloughed workers with HMRC funding available to cover 80 per cent monthly gross wage (up to £2,500).

The club executive can choose to cover the remaining 20 per cent but does not have to and the new legislation can be backdated to March 1, 2020 and open for three months with an extension possible.

In the Republic, if clubs can show they have lost 25 per cent of their income/trade they can claim 70 per cent of an employees net wage back up to a maximum of €410 per week and clubs must apply to revenue for the scheme.

“With the cessation of all games activity within the GAA since Friday, March 13 there have obviously been a significant effect on all areas of club life and club finances are no different,” read a GAA announcement.

With club gates shut and padlocked, the Player Injury Fund has now been suspended and no claims will be accepted during the close period.

In the North the GAA has encouraged clubs to throw their weight behind the Community Foundation for NI: Coronavirus Community Fund which has been established to assist community groups working together, particularly in smaller communities.

The fund will focus on assisting older people, those at increased risk, particularly in relation to poor mental health and wellbeing, vulnerable isolated people and families, particularly those living in rural areas.

The foundation will encourage a partnership approach and one application from one lead organisation, rather than a number of separate applications.

The foundation will be able to provide grants of £1,000 and will consider applications for up to £2,500.

Examples of projects may include:

Enabling older people to access a nutritious meal by connecting them to services providing groceries, and/or ready made meals

Enabling and encouraging isolated people of all ages to use and access technology to keep them connected to the outside world

Remote befriending schemes for those isolated, and in need of support

Social prescribing initiatives, in line with government guidance around isolation and social distancing. Developing online projects and volunteering opportunities, such as arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of exercise activities

Provision of enhanced counselling support services, providing they are offered in line with government advice and guidance around social distancing

Projects that build social networks, in line with current guidance around isolation and social distancing, and that may further develop once this period of isolation has ended

Projects supporting those at risk, for example those suffering from domestic violence, children at risk; providing the project is supporting those most in need, in line with government advice and guidance.