GAA: 'Deep regret' as Curriculum Sports Programme ends for Ulster GAA

Over 20 jobs at Ulster GAA will be lost as their end this involvement with the Curriculum Sports Programme.

The programme began in 2007 and has delivered coaching to approximately 40,000 pupils across 500 primary schools in Northern Ireland

"It is with deep regret that Ulster GAA announces that its involvement with the current Curriculum Sports Programme (CSP) will end tomorrow," read a statement from Ulster GAA.

"Since 2007, Ulster GAA, along with colleagues in the Irish Football Association, have delivered the Programme to Key Stage 1 pupils in over 500 primary schools across the North.

"This is a serious blow to staff, pupils and schools across the north," commented GAA Provincial Secretary Brian McAvoy.

"It is bitterly disappointing to have to make staff redundant at this time but despite our best efforts to secure additional funding, Ulster GAA was left with no choice but to end our involvement with the programme," added McAvoy who also highlighted the 'lasting imprint' it left on children.

“In October we were advised by the Department of Education that they were unable to find any in-year funding, either from within their own department or from other departments, to allow to programme to be funded beyond 31 October 2018.

“Ulster GAA took the decision to fund the CSP from its own resources until 14 December 2018, while we continued to engage with the Department, wider government, political representatives and other statutory bodies. Regrettably, this process has not led to any additional funding being secured.

“I thank the Ulster GAA members and staff, teachers and the elected representatives from across the political spectrum for their efforts in trying to secure additional funding but unfortunately it came to no avail.

“The sad reality is that combination of reduced exchequer funding, coupled with the absence of an Executive at Stormont has ultimately resulted in the end of the CSP and this is an outcome no one wanted.”

Brian McAvoy added that Ulster GAA and the Irish Football Association are continuing to engage with the Department of Education to ascertain if a replacement programme could be put in place in the next financial year. He said that these discussions were ongoing.

“Ulster GAA and the Irish Football Association (IFA) have put forward a joint proposal to the Department of Education in relation to possible options for the future of the programme. These are being looked at while the Department is also exploring with us potential opportunities for a new style programme in the next financial year. However, there is still no clarity on this.

“Had there been certainty beyond April 2019 I believe that it may have been possible to put in place a package with the Association nationally that would have allowed the CSP to continue for a further period. Regrettably, in the absence of any firm commitments at this stage this option could not be progressed in a meaningful way.”