Both the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and GAA are confident agreement can be reached on the issue of Government grants. This was the central topic of discussion at yesterday evening's meeting between the parties and although there was no comment afterwards, further talks are expected.

The Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue TD, confirmed last week a €5 million grant for the purposes of player welfare is still available if the GAA and GPA can agree on a vehicle for drawing it down. But there are also reservations within Croke Park about how the detail of any such agreement might work.

The Department of Sport is only empowered to make available capital funding and although the idea floated is that the GAA would spend a corresponding amount in the area of player welfare, this could create difficulties in the future.

"We'll have to see if this is acceptable to the Comptroller and Auditor General," according to one high-level GAA source, who nonetheless accepted agreement between the players and Croke Park was probable. "Then there is the question of repeat payments - in other words will we get the same funding in years to come, as well as the potential impact on other sports," he added.

"I'd say there'll be a deal all right but there might be more problems down the road when it comes to the Government working out the details."

The idea of the Government grant has its origins in the GPA proposals to open up tax breaks available to elite professional athletes to intercounty players of football and hurling. That was turned down by then Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy, as was a subsequent proposal to make grants available.

Despite initial hesitation on the part of the GAA there is now an acceptance co-operation on the issue of this grant is an obstacle to be cleared before further negotiations with the players' body can proceed.

Newly-appointed player welfare officer Páraic Duffy is engaged in assembling a player database and his arrival in Croke Park reflects a desire that a serious accommodation be reached between the two organisations. "The appointment's not solely to do the grants issue," according to GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell, "but it's an indication of how important the plight of players has become."

In the current political context Farrell says it's particularly important to grasp the nettle on the grants issue. "There's going to be an election in May and we don't know how the landscape is going to look after that. Now that this Government has reached the conclusion it has, it would be a shame to let slip the immediate opportunity and the setting of a precedent."

In relation to how the money would be spent both sides are aware it has to be on player welfare even if the GAA has its concerns about how that will tally with the nature of the grants. "It's important we remember the original concept was to alleviate the financial burden on players and whatever scheme is set up will have to address that," according to Farrell.

Further meetings are likely to take place on the matter with the aim being to present a joint document to the Government in the coming weeks. Both sides are also in agreement about the likely timeframe for the next most urgent matter on the talks agenda, the recognition of the GPA by Croke Park as the official players' body. "It's likely to be concluded by the end of this year," according to another involved GAA source.

"We've been in operation for eight years and we're thankful that the GAA has decided to engage with players," according to Farrell. "It's also important we can have a normal relationship with the GAA as opposed to one that depends on the whim of the incumbent president: if he was a players' man that was really great; if not, it wasn't."

Croke Park's negotiating team is high-powered: president Nickey Brennan, director general Liam Mulvihill, Páraic Duffy and PRO Danny Lynch.