The GAA will be left with a "crippling debt" if it doesn't get further assistance from the Government, the association's president has warned, writes Seán Moran.
Mr Sean McCague said yesterday that the association's overdraft would spiral in the wake of the Government's recent decision to withhold €38 million in grants.
Speaking at Croke Park, Mr McCague warned: "We will be left with a crippling debt if we don't get further assistance. Our overdraft will be up to €70 million and we still have work to do."
It is increasingly likely that there will be public funding for a new stadium to be developed by the IRFU and the FAI. In the event of soccer and rugby receiving significant financial backing, the GAA has always maintained it should be treated equally.
To date the Croke Park redevelopment has received around €70 million in Government support. The money still outstanding was part of a grant of €76 million that emerged during the 2001 annual congress the night before the GAA debated whether to open Croke Park to other sports.
The money was perceived to weaken the financial argument in favour of leasing the ground for soccer and rugby internationals and consequently strengthen the case for the Taoiseach's Stadium Ireland project in Abbotstown.
When the public finances deteriorated, Abbotstown was dropped, enabling the Government to withdraw the balance due to the GAA on the grounds that it had been agreed in return for a number of Gaelic games fixtures being staged in Stadium Ireland. Mr McCague said yesterday that he was hopeful talks with the Government would take place soon.