Oireachtas committee blasts ‘scandalous’ gender gap in Government funding of Gaelic games

€3m grant funding is paid annually to male inter-county players, whereas the €700k awarded to female inter-county players is a more team focused grant

Gemma Begley: “On a per player basis, males received [in 2020] an average of €1,282 each, compared to €424 invested for each female.”

The Oireachtas committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht is to write to the Department of Sport requesting a “thorough review” of funding for women’s sport, with TDs and senators branding as “scandalous”, “absolutely disgraceful”, and “unacceptable” the disparity in Government funding between male and female inter-county players.

At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Oireachtas committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, members were informed by the CEOs of the Camogie Association and LGFA of the “vital” need for increased funding for the respective organisations.