The Government has told the GAA it must now apply for the outstanding half of the €76.2 million controversially pledged to the association 18 months ago for the redevelopment of Croke Park.
At a meeting with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, and the Minister for Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, last night, the GAA was told the abandonment of plans for a State-funded national stadium meant the remaining €38.1 million would not now be paid automatically.
The development comes against a background of a worsening relationship between the Government and the GAA and the deteriorating public finances. The Government was angered last month by the robust public questioning by GAA president, Mr Seán McCague, of the viability of the proposed joint Irish/Scottish bid for the 2008 European Soccer Championship. Mr O'Donoghue last night restated the Government's wish to see Croke Park used in the 2008 tournament, while denying there was any link between this and the threat to the funding. "Opening Croke Park is a matter for the GAA to consider," he said. He said the funding had been predicated on the building of the national stadium and the GAA's use of it for a number of matches. Now that a State-funded stadium was not going ahead "the GAA will have to make an application for funding in the normal way".
However, he said the Government's decision on that application would not be dependent on whatever decision the GAA made about to Croke Park.
Mr McCague said last night the association would apply for the money. "We hope it will be treated very positively," he said.
The additional funding of €76.2 million for Croke Park was announced on the eve of the 2001 GAA Congress which debated a motion to open Croke Park to other sports. Critics of the announcement said it swayed crucial votes, ensuring a narrow defeat for the proposal and boosting the viability of the then planned national stadium.