GAA to give the GPA €6 million per annum as part of new agreement

[Owenmoresider]

GAA to give the GPA €6 million per annum as part of new agreement.

25/07/2016 - 13:01:17

The GAA will provide the GPA with over €6 million per annum over three years (2017-19) as part of their new framework agreement – a jump of almost two and a half times the value of their current deal, writes John Fogarty.

In a new initiative, 15% of the GAA's net central commercial revenue (media coverage,
sponsorship, franchising, licensing) will be handed over to the official players body. In 2015, that figure was €2m but €2.5m is the minimum guaranteed.

A total of €1.2m per annum will go towards players' nutritional expenses, while the GAA have guaranteed an additional €800,000 per year for player services.

Inter-county players' mileage rates will also increase from 50 cent per mile to between 62.5 and 65 cent per mile with a maximum cost of €1.5m. As of present, county boards pay players' mileage but Croke Park will now distribute the expenses.

A figure of €200,000 will be set aside for surgical interventions for former inter-county players.

Outside of mileage expenses, the GAA's interim agreement with the GPA is currently worth approximately €2m.

Providing Central Council rubberstamps the deal, the GPA will also be entitled to submit one motion to Congress as well as an increase of their Congress representation to two delegates. A new working group involving players and officials will also be established to examine demands on players with their proposals going forward to Central Council by the middle of next year.

"Our inter-county players make a special contribution to the Association in so many ways," said GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail. "The increased commitment involved in playing our games at inter-county level has been commonly acknowledged for some time. We are serious about the welfare of our players and will continue to work with the GPA to safeguard that welfare."

GPA president Dermot Earley remarked: "By pledging to support the needs of county players and recognising the increasingly challenging environment in which they operate, the GAA has taken a very important step in securing their future wellbeing."

Earley, Limerick's Seamus Hickey (GPA secretary) as well as GPA officers Richie Hogan and Paul Flynn were part of the GPA's negotiating team.

[Rossfan]

Will players from the 31 Counties now get their meals delivered like Dublin?

[heffo]

Will players from the 31 Counties now get their meals delivered like Dublin?

Can we all make up a fantastical claim about Dublin GAA add the VAT and see what we come up with?

There might even be some truth in some of it

[yellowcard]

A nutritional allowance for players? How is that going to work or what are the details. Do players each get a set amount to spend on food per year, why not just simply increase the grant they already get?

[Maroon Manc]

Forgive my ignorance on mileage expenses but were HQ reimbursing county boards for paying players mileage?

[Lar Naparka]

Will players from the 31 Counties now get their meals delivered like Dublin?

Can we all make up a fantastical claim about Dublin GAA add the VAT and see what we come up with?

There might even be some truth in some of it

Do you mean under the table or out in the open payments?

[twohands!!!]

Forgive my ignorance on mileage expenses but were HQ reimbursing county boards for paying players mileage?

Quote from article

. As of present, county boards pay players' mileage but Croke Park will now distribute the expenses.

A fair few instances of player upset over the years have been about county boards being slow to pay expenses, especially compared to neighbouring counties, so I'd imagine Croke Park handling it will mean squads won't be using it as a gripe.

Inter-county players' mileage rates will also increase from 50 cent per mile to between 62.5 and 65 cent per mile with a maximum cost of €1.5m.

Anyone know the reason for this difference in the rate?

I think HQ should have forced the GPA to be a lot more open as regards their finances and spending, it's a gripe I've heard from a couple of places that you need to be connected to get the best out of the GPA.

[heffo]

Will players from the 31 Counties now get their meals delivered like Dublin?

Can we all make up a fantastical claim about Dublin GAA add the VAT and see what we come up with?

There might even be some truth in some of it

Do you mean under the table or out in the open payments?

Make up whatever your little heart desires

[Maroon Manc]

A little bit more on the mileage, the County boards will continue to pay 50c a mile with the GPA paying the additional 12.5c - 15c

[manfromdelmonte]

will they publish the salaries the full time GPA staff are receiving?

[Over the Bar]

Will players from the 31 Counties now get their meals delivered like Dublin?

Shhh, you aren't allowed to talk about the Dublin panellists like that or Pillar will come round your hous and ram his truncheon up your ****

[The Aristocrat]

Shouldn't be a problem with Mayo and Kerry, two of the most well funded counties in GAA history. The players from those counties get a lot.

Presume Dessie here will get an increase in his large annual salary?

The good thing with this is that the GPA can put forward 1 motion to congress annually. That is a start.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Complete and utter roll over from HQ. All about the $ in the GPA. To run their programmes they should need a fixed sum, not a percentage of the GAA's net central commercial revenue.

[Maroon Manc]

After the reading it again it looks like most of the extra 4 millions is accounted for with 1.5m going on mileage, 1.2m for nutritional expenses and 0.8m on player services.

Anyone have an idea of what salary Farrell is on?

[antoinse]

I think I heard he was on the average industrial wage