GAA address Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing
Benny Hurl, Cairperson of the GAA's National Demographics Committee addresses the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government, and Heritage.
GAA Demographics Committee Chairperson, Benny Hurl yesterday called for help from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government, and Heritage to address the huge challenges that shifting demographics present to the Association.
Hurl, along with GAA Strategy, Insights, and Innovation Manager, Dr. Peter Horgan, addressed the Committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas, and emphasised why housing policy is so important to tackling the sporting fall-out from rural decline and increased urbanisation.
“It's very, very important to emphasise that the GAA, a sporting organisation, a community organisation, cannot solve the problems presented by demographic shifts on our own, nor should we be expected to,” said Hurl.
“We don't have the tools. We can do so many things internally, but we require external help.
“All of the problems presented by demographics are fundamentally linked to housing, delivery, land use and planning policy in particular, areas that are squarely within the remit of this committee.
“Sporting infrastructure is essential social infrastructure, yet it is too often treated as optional or secondary. Unlike water, transport or schools, there is no consistent national standard linking population growth to the provision of sporting facilities.
“The results are predictable. Communities are built first and amenities are usually left to catch up if they ever do. We strongly welcome the work being progressed by the Office of the Planning Regulator, with Sport Ireland and national governing bodies, including the exploration of a national sports facility calculator, which has the potential to transform how we plan for sustainable communities by aligning population growth with evidence-based facility provision.
“So, in conclusion, what are the GAA asking of this committee? We're asking three things in particular. We're asking the committee to use its influence in the three key areas. Firstly, embedding sports infrastructure in the planning system which includes statutory recognition of sporting facilities as essential infrastructure.
“Mandatory consideration of development plans and community infrastructure impact assessments for large housing developments.
“Secondly, we would like to see this committee using their influence in reforming development levies and zoning practices.
“Voluntary clubs simply cannot compete for land at current commercial prices. We need mechanisms to ring fence levies for community sport, protect land for recreational use, and incentivise partnerships between developers and community organisations like ourselves.
“And, finally, we would like to see the committee aligning housing delivery with community capacity.
“What we mean by that is that no major residential development should proceed without a clear plan for how sporting and community needs will be met, whether through expanded club capacity or the creation of new facilities.”
A video recording of the demographics discussion in full with the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government, and Heritage can be viewed here - https://media.heanet.ie/page/bbfd806eb6b34ba2aa237744ef2fbb6b
