Tus start ‘parked up’ by Dáil delay

THE Tus Initiative, which had promised up to 200 jobs for out-of-work GAA players, has been put on ice as a result of the changeover at Leinster House.

The scheme was the brainchild of former Minister for Social Protection, Eamon Ó Cuiv, who had hopes of returning 15,000 people to work, among them the couple of hundred GAA players who were due to be employed in coaching roles. GAA president Christy Cooney said last month he hoped that the idea could be made official within weeks but it seems nothing was signed, sealed or delivered prior to the general election.

“That’s parked up more or less for now,” said GAA spokesman Alan Milton. “The GAA and a number of other sporting bodies met up with the minister and everyone was extremely enthusiastic about it. An agreement was made in principle but, the thing is, nothing was cast in iron and we will just have to let things settle down (in Leinster House) now and see where everything sits after a while.”

Whatever the outcome with the Tus Initiative, the GAA look to be guaranteed to have a sympathetic voice in the country’s new administration with two Fine Gael TDs, Kerry’s Jimmy Deenihan and Mayo’s John O’Mahony, in the running for the sports portfolio. O’Mahony, who guided Galway to two All-Irelands, was Fine Gael’s spokesperson for sport in the 30th Dáil while Deenihan, who won five All-Irelands with Kerry, has also served as party spokesperson for sport. Mary Upton has been Labour’s voice on sporting matters.