Time to grasp the nettle on funding for Dublin, urges Quinn
Dublin chairman John F. Bailey appealed at the weekend for support from all counties for proposals being finalised with the Strategic Review Committee and Peter Quinn echoes that view. “These proposals are for the benefit of the entire Association not just for Dublin,” he said.
The issues facing Dublin are unique, according to Mr. Bailey. There is huge competition from other sports and the resources at their disposal are inadequate to cater for a population over a million people.
The SRC chairman says that they are “fairly close’’ to reaching an agreement with the Dublin officials, possibly within the next fortnight. After that, the matter goes to the Leinster Council and then on to Central Council, for approval.
Mr. Quinn explained why Dublin “is different” from the rest of the country. “All of the other counties effectively fund themselves. Despite its population or maybe because of it, Dublin is incapable of funding itself. It’s needs are disproportionate to its resources.
“The rest of the Association has a choice between helping Dublin to come up to a par with the rest of the other counties or ignoring Dublin and effectively leaving four or five hundred thousand kids with no access to Gaelic games. I just believe the Association cannot make that choice. They have got to support Dublin. And if that means giving that bit extra money - more than proportionate to what the other counties get - personally I think it’s a price they have got to pay.
“Obviously the other counties will make that call. But, they would not be acting in either the Association’s interest or the national interest if they were not prepared to be a little bit more generous towards Dublin.”
Note: In their original document, the SRC suggested that Dublin would need 4.5m annually to fund its administration, coaching and physical development needs.
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