North Antrim MLA Jim Allister has expressed shock after he uncovered that clubs affiliated to the Irish Football Association and IRFU receive a fraction of the government funding allocated to GAA clubs.

The TUV leader said:

“I am appalled to learn by way of an Assembly question that GAA clubs in Northern Ireland have received more than double the exchequer funding allocated to their footballing counterparts over the last five years.

“GAA clubs have received almost £18 million of tax payer’s money while clubs affiliated with the Irish Football Association have received under £8.5 million over the same period. Clubs affiliated to the Irish Rugby Football Union received a mere £708,187 over the last five years.

“Even when Lottery funding is taken into account the gap is still huge.

“What makes these figures all the more shocking is that for much of that time the DUP controlled the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

 “It’s about time that those sports which are participated in and enjoyed by all sections of our community received their fair share of funding. It is simply unacceptable that the GAA – an organisation which continues to glorify terrorism by the names it gives to its grounds and competitions – should receive such two thirds of Exchequer funding allocated to clubs across the GAA, IRFU and IFA.”

Note to editors:

Mr Allister’s question and the answer received were as follows:

To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to AQW 2961/11-15, to detail the funding allocated to clubs affiliated to the (i) Gaelic Athletic Association; (ii) Irish Football Association; and (iii) Irish Rugby Football Union in each of the last five years.

Sport NI is the lead development agency for sport in the north of Ireland with responsibility for the distribution of Exchequer and Lottery funding. In the last five financial years  Sport NI has allocated a total of £29,227,994 to clubs affiliated to the Gaelic Athletic Association  the Irish Football Association and the Irish Rugby Football  Union. A breakdown of this funding is provided in the table below:

Date	GAA		IFA		IRFU
	Exchequer	Lottery	Exchequer	Lottery	Exchequer	Lottery
2006/07	£1,848,283		£214,366
2007/08	£2,786,466		£807,163
2008/09	£3,999,228		£1,364,372	£1,880,017	£410,403
2009/10	£8,689,681		£3,925,414	£245,000	£208,680
2010/11	£586,283		£2,173,534		£89,104
Sub total	£17,909,941		£8,484,849	£2,125,017	£708,187
Total	£17,909,941		£10,609,866		£708,187