The new Government grant just awarded to the Gaelic Players' Association would be enough to build the long delayed national velodrome. Above, the velodrome in Invercargill, New Zealand; a country with three indoor tracks despite being a small nation like Ireland.
Having been left disappointed yet again when no monies were earmarked by the Government for the national velodrome, Irish cycling has been forced to look on as other sports see their funding increase.
Gaelic games are the most subsidised of any sports in the country and now a group representing players who compete for their county have secured a bonanza of €6.9 million.
A sum of that size would almost cover the full costs of building the new long mooted indoor velodrome in Dublin, which has been put at €7-€8 million.
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It emerged today that €6.9 million will go to the Gaelic Players’ Association over the next three years during which time its annual allocation from the Government will reach €3 million.
The new three-year commitment will see the Government give the money to the GAA via Sport Ireland. And the GAA will then work with the Gaelic Players’ Association on devising a plan for the investment of the funds.
A sum of €1.6 million will be provided to the group of players next year, rising to €2.3 million the following year and reaching €3 million in 2019.
The sums represent a big increase on the €900,000 the GPA received this year. The allocation of the money was announced by Taoiseach Enda Kenny at a function in Croke Park today.
The GPA supports players with welfare related issues and assists them in developing their career path off the football and hurling pitches.
It assists in any health care and counselling they need and helps them with education and starting their own businesses, among other services.
Kenny said the money to the GPA was part of the Government’s “recognition for the contribution of Gaelic inter-county players to the economic and social fabric” of the country.
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“They train hard to become the best they can be, in order to do their county, their town or their parish proud,” he said.
“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 wellbeing, the fight against obesity and the prevention of alcohol and drugs misuse.”
Gaelic games are hugely popular in Ireland the GAA undoubtedly makes a very significant contribution to Irish society; not only on a sport level but also in bringing communities together.
And while few sports fans would oppose the principal of funding going any organisation with the athlete welfare at its core, the additional funding comes on top of the funding supplied to the GAA for its core operations and capital projects like stadium development and improvements.
The awarding of such a large sum of money to a welfare body in a sport that already receives such significant support from the public purse is another reminder that the Government can find extra money with apparent ease when it chooses.
However, despite much success on the track by top Irish riders and years of promises, no money has been earmarked to develop the velodrome in Dublin with many now fearing the project will never get off the ground.
The mooted 250-metre velodrome is earmarked for the Sports Campus Ireland in Abbotstown, Dublin.
Cycling Ireland has secured new offices at the location to move into for its officials and it is hoped that will effectively be the first real step in the sport finding a new home there, including the construction of the velodrome.
However, in the recent Budget allocation for all areas of public spending next year no money was earmarked for the velodrome.
It means it is now highly unlikely the project will be operational but the next Olympic Games in 2020.
And with Cycling Ireland membership numbers having stalled for the first time in over a decade this year, there are fears the moment of maximum opportunity for the project has passed, though hopefully not.
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