GAA Agreement with Shared Access

GAA Agreement with Shared Access

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has entered an agreement with Shared Access that provides Clubs with the opportunity to potentially attain a floodlighting solution and to generate an annual income.

Shared Access is a private Irish company with over €40M raised to invest in Irish telecoms infrastructure. The company designs, builds and maintains structures for wireless operators such as Vodafone, Meteor, O2 and 3 amongst others, to supply mobile telephony and broadband coverage. In addition, Shared Access manages the development and operation of telecoms infrastructure on the State’s portfolio of land and buildings (OPW) as well as other major developments.

Shared Access will provide a turnkey floodlighting solution, which meets agreed GAA standards, should your location prove suitable for their clients. As well as creating a valuable improvement for your Club’s facilities, the development will also provide an annual income with a share of the rental revenue given directly to the Club. In summary, this is a way for your Club to benefit from a significant capital investment with the added benefit of long term annual rental income.

If your club already has floodlights, Shared Access would still like the opportunity to discuss the development options with you, which could include a capital contribution to the Club, as well as a share in the annual rental revenue.

If your club is interested please complete the enclosed enquiry form and e-mail the form back to GAA@sharedaccess.com.

If you require further information you can contact Shared Access at 01-6429888. An FAQ document is also enclosed below which may help answer some of your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q1: Who are Shared Access?
Shared Access are a private Irish company with over €40M raised to invest in Irish telecoms infrastructure. The company designs, builds and maintains structures for wireless operators such as Vodafone, Meteor, O2 and 3 amongst others, to supply mobile telephony and broadband coverage.

The company website is: http://www.sharedaccess.com/ireland/.

Q2: How do we begin the process?
The process is as follows:
A. The club makes contact with Shared Access and expresses its initial interest in exploring the opportunity that may exist.
B. Shared Access will survey the club and determine if the location is suitable.
C. If suitable, the club holds a meeting of members to discuss the proposal.
D. The club seeks the permission of the Central Council of the GAA to proceed in accordance with 10.2 of the club constitution

Q3: Is any capital available to the Club outside of having lighting structures installed?
A: Possibly - any capital contribution will depend on the total capital costs of the telecoms installation and the potential of the existing site for future wireless operators.

Q4: Is any annual revenue available to the Club?
There is a revenue stream available based on the number of Operators, technically this revenue would be paid to the landowner, or the Club if the Club is the Landowner, or if the Landowner / Club have an agreement that enables the Club to receive the revenue stream.

Q5: How/who will manage the annual revenue allocation?
Shared Access

Q6: How many wireless operators could potentially use the Club’s location?
Up to 4 mobile or broadband operators.

Q7: Is there any cost/risk to the Club associated with the scheme?
No there is no risk to the Club, and upon completion the lighting scheme becomes the property of the Club. All costs associated with planning, design, and build are borne directly by Shared Access.

Q8: Is planning permission required?
In general yes, but not where there are existing structures or suitable buildings.

Q9: Who applies and bears cost of applying for planning permission and on whose behalf?
Shared Access bears the cost of and applies for planning permission on behalf of the Club

Q10: What is the situation regarding power for the lights?
The lighting will require a standalone generator or high capacity ESB connection.

Q11: What light level (LUX level) will these lights meet?
The lighting level will be 250 lux and will be switchable to 150 lux for training

Q12: Will the lights match GAA specification?
Yes

Q13: Who will be installing the lights?
Shared Access

Q14: How long will the installation take?
A: Approximately 4 weeks

Q15: Will the development cause much disruption to normal Club activities?
While disruption will be site specific it will be minimal and discussed and agreed with the Club prior to works commencing.

Q16: Who takes responsibility for the lights after they are installed, maintenance etc?
Shared Access will maintain the lights for a period of 2 years - this includes bulb replacement at no cost to the Club.

Q17: What is the situation regarding the equipment for the wireless operators and where will it be housed?
The equipment will be in outdoor cabinets in a location agreed with the Club.

Q18: How is the development covered by insurance?
All contractors entering the club property will have their own insurance and will have to show proof of insurance to the GAA before being allowed to proceed.

Q19: What is the Health & Safety situation regarding wireless installations and who controls same?
Shared Access checks and ensures that all wireless providers comply with the ICNIRP Guidelines. These are the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection radio frequency guidelines levels, as endorsed by the World Health Organisation. In addition, this compliance is a condition of the wireless operators' Licenses with COMREG (Irish Telecoms Regulator) who in turn independently tests operator installations nationwide.

Further information is available at http://www.icnirp.org/.

Sample results of COMREG tests can be seen at: http://www.comreg.ie/licensing_and_services/nir.554.444.html.

Q20: Who does the Club approach if they have any Health &Safety queries from members or the general public?
Shared Access will supply information on H&S or can be contacted directly in relation to any queries.

Q21: How do we deal with any concerns our members may have?
We are recommending that clubs hold a meeting of all of their members to discuss this and only proceed with the support of the membership.

Q22: If a person is injured during the installation of the lights will the club be covered?
All contractors engaged to erect the lights will provide evidence of valid Public & Employers Liability Insurance with an indemnity noted to the club and county board. This will be provided to the GAA Risk and Insurance Manager.

Q23: Once installed will the lights be covered for damage?
Yes they will be automatically covered by the GAA Property Insurance policy where an excess of €4,000 applies.