GAA to make multi million euro increase in Club grants:
GAA Clubs are set to hit the jackpot through a massive increase in the millions of euro being made available by Croke Park towards the development of club pitches and club facilities.
Uachtarán CLG John Horan has told the latest edition of the GAA Club Newsletter of plans to double the payments being made annually to clubs from €2m to €4m over the next four years.
This will mean that more clubs than ever before will be able to receive financial assistance towards the redevelopment of their pitches, clubhouses and club facilities.
In the last six years there has been more than €12m made available specifically for club redevelopments all across the country through payments from the National Finance Management Committee.
In 2017 there was €2.1m made available and this year Uachtarán Horan has said there will be an increase up to €2.5m.
However, the GAA is now committed to a significant increase in club grant finance that has set a goal of increasing this figure and making €4m available every year by 2021.
The Uachtarán said: “Traveling around the country visiting our Clubs, it never ceases to amaze and impress me when I see the pride and passion evident through the investment in facilities made by our network of Clubs.
“Big or small, whether successful in Championships or not, the work done by our Clubs to provide the best facilities possible for our players and members is inspirational.
“The bulk of the work done by Clubs is money raised by these Clubs through incredible fundraising efforts and initiatives.
“It is helped by the generosity and support of their members and local communities and in places through the important allocation of State and National Lottery support.
“The GAA is also committed to playing a part in assisting our Clubs in this work.
“More than a thousand Clubs have benefitted from the receipt of not just our financial support towards their redevelopment work but, also financial advice and guidance from Director of finance Ger Mulryan and National Finance Manager Kathy Slattery in Croke Park and the National Financial Management Committee led by Colin Morgan.
“I am delighted to be able to announce that the decision to significantly increase this level of funding for Club projects will further ease the financial burden on Clubs, make it possible for more Clubs than ever before to be involved and add to the already magnificent list of GAA Club facilities across cities, towns, villages and parishes that are the envy of other sports and provide such a vital amenity to their communities.”
In any given year there are some 400 Clubs across all 32 counties that are receiving financial support through the Club grants.
Clubs looking to find out more about how they can be eligible for access to Club Grants can contact their Provincial Council for further information.
