I don’t have the cash to pay grants, says Cullen

SPORTS Minister Martin Cullen will meet GPA chiefs to discuss inter-county player grants but insists he does not have the €3.5 million required for the scheme.

The Irish Sports Council (ISC) will today announce their funding for the GAA, FAI and IRFU. However questions over what monies, if any, will be made available for the country’s top hurlers and footballers are likely to dominate this afternoon’s press conference.

The economic downturn and government belt tightening looks set to force a drastic reduction – or possibly a scrappage – of the scheme.