GAA and AILG agree historic charter to address impact of Ireland's demographic shift

The GAA has signed a historic charter to forge a closer working relationship with Local Government in Ireland at the Association of Irish Local Government conference in Tipperary today.

Signing the charter on behalf of the GAA was Uachtarán Jarlath Burns and it was signed on behalf of the councillors of Ireland by Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan who is President of the AILG.

It comes as the GAA presented its findings from its recent Demographic Report to nearly 300 councillors who assembled in Clonmel for their annual conference.

In establishing this partnership, the GAA hopes to forge a working relationship with the Local Government sector to address some key areas of concern, raised in their Demographics Report.

Chief among them is the regional imbalance that exists between the over urbanised East coast of Ireland and areas of sparse population in the West and South.

Also of huge concern to the GAA is the issue of access to playing facilities for its members in the new urbanised areas that have been created across Ireland and the need for greater input by local authorities in providing playing pitches and creating municipal style facilities.

Joining the delegates at the signing ceremony were CCMA Chairman Paddy Mahon, Tipperary County Council CEO Sinead Carr and LGMACEO Pauline Mulligan.

As part of the charter the GAA and AILG have made the following commitments:

1. Support Balanced Regional Development

• We will support and advocate for population expansion in rural Ireland to counter in some way the significant growth that has occurred and continues to occur in urban areas. We recognise the importance of developing sustainable rural towns and villages, retaining and increasing population therein, together with investing in necessary infrastructure and amenities.

2. Encourage Better Collaboration Between Local Government and GAA

• Actively establish the links required that will allow for better communication between local government and the GAA so that we can review progress, share best practice and identify co-funding opportunities.

• Local government is central to the sustainability and growth of the GAA North and South. County and City Councils, municipal districts and local development agencies are often the primary funders and decision makers for sports facilities, land use and community development projects.

• We will encourage submission from the units of the GAA across Ireland to the democratic process of County Development Plans in order to assist and shape local authority development strategies and council community plans North and South. We will also encourage local GAA clubs to participate in Public Participation Networks (PPNs) and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) to influence grassroots policy.

3. Plan and Fund Facilities In Line with Population Growth

• In line with demographic change, local authorities should ensure that new and upgraded sporting facilities are developed proportionate to population growth and community needs.

• We encourage incorporating clear facility standards and zoning policies within Development Plans (South) and Local Development Plans (North),and to seek that developers of large housing projects contribute appropriately to recreational land and infrastructure.

• We will encourage local authorities and national government to establish guidelines for open and green space per 1,000 residents, drawing on international best practice such as the UK’s 6-acre standard.

4. Develop An All-Island Sporting Facilities Framework

• We will encourage the development of an All-Island Sporting Facilities Framework to ensure that all communities, rural and urban, have equitable access to high quality, inclusive, and sustainable sporting infrastructure that meets both current and future demand.

* The joint pledge, co-signed by GAA President, Jarlath Burns, and AILG President, Mary Hanna Hourigan, can be viewed and downloaded below.