County players have been assured that they will receive their government grant payments within the next two weeks.
It comes following a remote meeting held between the Gaelic Players Association, led by CEO Paul Flynn, and representatives from county panels across the country last night, with the GPA’s national executive committee having met the day before.
The grant payments relate to the 2019 season and in total are worth €3m to the inter-county playing body, ranging in payments from around €1,000 at the lowest end of the scale and up to €2,400 for All-Ireland finalists.
The scheme has been in existence since 2008, when it was worth €3.5m, though it was watered down considerably as a result of the financial crisis that hit that same year and in light of the inevitable economic downturn as a result of the current COVID-19 restrictions, it may well be slashed, at the very least, by the incoming government.
Players are keen for clarity around what shape the inter-county season will take - if it goes ahead at all - though there was at least some progress in that regard earlier this week when the GAA announced that the Championship will not be getting underway before July - at the earliest.
A remote Special Congress has been called for tomorrow, at which the GPA will be represented, and the players’ body will then convene another meeting with its members next week.
