GAA helping Government to tackle unemployment:

GAA Director of Games Development & Research: Pat Daly (front row, second right)

            The GAA will tomorrow launch a new initiative to help at least 200 of its unemployed members attain work.

            Under the Government's JobBridge scheme, a flagship project to create 5,000 intern places over five years, Croke Park is looking to get unemployed players, coaches and administrators into appropriate positions in the new year.  Director of Games Development and Research Pat Daly and the provincial councils have created structures that will culminate in out-of-work members being placed in a variety of roles.

            Currently, there are in the region of 300 inter-county players unemployed and this scheme will see some of these - and other members - continue to receive unemployment benefit as well as a €50 additional payment from the Government.  Successful applicants can earn at least an extra €200 per month and depending on what position they secure they could also gain additional income in vouched expenses and remuneration, with their prospects of full-time employment also enhanced.

            The GAA reflect the rest of Irish society in micro.  Thousands of Irish people have emigrated every day of this and last year.  In the first nine months; Cork have lost 86 club GAA players, Tyrone 57, Tipperary 55, Limerick 54 and All-Ireland Football Champions Dublin have seen 49 players depart these shores.  The GAA will hope that schemes such as the JobBridge scheme will help arrest this situation.
            "Some of the positions on offer include a sports therapist internship with the Monaghan County Board, the chance to work as a team administrative assistant with the Tipperary board and there's also a games development administrative position available with the Ulster Council," - said Caoimhe Ni Neill of Croke Park's Games Development department on Friday last. 
            The GAA has ensured that only constructive positions are on offer and predetermined that county boards would compile lengthy job specifications of the duties interns will attend to. Each candidate will have a supervisor and mentor advising them.   A new website, www.jobbridgegaa.ie, which has been established to provide details of the scheme, goes live tomorrow.