Páirc Uí Chaoimh impasse will be resolved, says Páraic Duffy
It was reported last week that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had expressed concern about the cost-effectiveness of the project as outlined by the Cork County Board. The board later rejected the claim, insisting no money had been held back and neither had they yet sought any of it.
Duffy is convinced the matter will be come to a satisfactory conclusion. “Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be fine. It’s an issue between Cork and the department, in terms of documentation, but I’m absolutely confident that will be resolved. I think the department are looking for information, and the way Cork presented that isn’t exactly the way they wanted, but I’ve no doubt it will be resolved.
“We’ve a few issues with Casement Park, as well, which means reapplying for planning permission. Páirc Uí Chaoimh shouldn’t be severely affected. Casement has slowed down, but I’m confident it can go through, and I’m very committed to it.”
The redeveloped venue is an integral part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup bid, which has been fully endorsed by the Government. Duffy said: “I expect both Casement and Páirc Uí Chaoimh to be completed, maybe a little later in terms in Casement, but long before the Rugby World Cup.
“With the Rugby World Cup bid in 2023, we’re very much behind that, and our stadiums are available for that. That’s the one we’re focused on, and it’s up to the IRFU to get the bid over the line.”
Responding to former GAA president Seán Kelly’s claim in this newspaper on Tuesday that Croke Park will again host rugby and soccer internationals following the end of their commitment to host all major home fixtures at the Aviva Stadium, Duffy said it’s a matter for FAI and the IRFU as the GAA have already made the provision for such an eventuality.
He also revealed Dublin’s Central Council funding has remained untouched following discussions. “We haven’t changed that. It’s as it was. There was some discussion around it, but it has been resolved, and Dublin are being funded as they were.
“It’s around €800,000, in that region. But we look at the whole picture of funding, in terms of all counties, and have, in the last year, looked at ways of provided more equitable distribution, in terms of the smaller counties.”
He added: “I think there is more than a perception, there is a reality that Dublin is better off because of the fact they can attract more. But they are catering for the biggest population in the country and the expectation we have of them is to develop the game so I think they use that money well.
“You have counties like Dublin who have a population of 1.3 or 1.5m and you have counties like Longford, Monaghan, Fermanagh and Carlow and Cavan who have 20, 30, 40 or 50,000 so there is a huge disparity. It takes more to run a county of 1.5m than it does to run one of 25,000 so you have to take all those things into account.”
Former uachtarán Kelly also said plans to implement a calendar year season would be disastrous. Duffy admitted progress on the matter has been slow. “There has been some negative reaction to it. But I think all the issues can be overcome. Whether we will be ready to bring it in next year is questionable but the commitment to bring it in is still there.
“We still believe it is the way forward but we have to address the concerns people have. Some of those concerns are around the (dual county) issues, some of them are around St Patrick’s Day (All-Ireland senior club finals day), which seems to be a huge issue for people. We have to resolve those.
“Do we have solutions? No. Are we working on them? Yes. And we still believe it is the way forward. We have to reassure dual counties we can deal with the issues they have and we are trying to do that but we are not going to rush that.”
As for whether the league semi-finals could be jettisoned as part of the calendar year season, Duffy remarked: “The semi finals is something the counties want and one of the reasons is financial. You can say the crowds weren’t great - there was 20,000 (last Sunday) but there was a financial bonus for the counties. They decide the structure of the league really and I have an open mind but I don’t see any signs of a move to get rid of them.”
Duffy was speaking in Croke Park yesterday at the announcement of the Irish Sports Council’s €7.4m contribution to support grassroots development in Gaelic games, rugby and soccer. This year the GAA will receive €2.4m, the FAI €2.7m and the IRFU 2.36m.
The monies will go towards areas such as coach development, club support, under-age programmes, volunteer support programmes, community schemes, referee development and targeting at-risk communities.
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Mr. Michael Ring TD also confirmed €41m would again be available as part of the Sports Capital Programme, which is open for applications until Friday, April 24.
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