GAA-GPA deal sees inter-county stars net €6m a year

Central Council has endorsed the GAA’s framework agreement with the GPA, which will see inter-county players benefit by at least €6.2m per annum for the next three years.

Although there were concerns previously raised in some quarters about the scale of the deal, there were no issues raised at the meeting in Croke Park.

Players will see their mileage rate increase from 50c per mile to between 62.5c and 65c, and the GAA are likely to extend that increase to other groups such as managers, referees, and county board officials.

Central Council’s support means GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell can step away in January having ensured the medium term security of the official players body. Farrell is on record as saying he expects the GPA’s revenue to hit between €7.5 and €8m in 2017.

Although the future of the Government grants is not yet certain, there are hopes Farrell will be able to sign off on a new agreement with the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport before he leaves office.

The current deal is worth less than €900,000 to players, although it stood at €3.6m prior to the recession and Farrell is keen to see the value of the scheme return to that figure.

The GAA’s master fixtures list for 2017 was also rubberstamped by Central Council. Following a vote at Congress in February, there will be no Division 1 semi-finals for the first time since 2011. The two teams who finish top following the seven regulation rounds will compete in the final, similar to the format in Division 2, 3, and 4.

The final round matches are scheduled for April 2, with the four finals likely to take place over a weekend one or two weeks later, providing more space for club fixtures.