Madam, - I write in response to a letter from David Luke (March 4th) in which he spuriously remarks that taxpayers have contributed almost half the cost of the building of Croke Park.
For the record, the GAA has developed a network of facilities countrywide at a cost estimated at around €2.6 billion with the aim of providing a social, cultural and sporting outlet for communities in rural parishes, villages, towns and cities. It has made an inestimable contribution to the social, mental and physical health and well being of the nation.
The GAA has redeveloped Croke Park at a cost of close to €260 million. With the exception of the €19 million that the Government invested in Croke Park to prepare it to host the opening and closing ceremonies for the Special Olympics, the balance of any monies received is lottery funding. The lottery was established to provide additional funding to support the arts, culture, and national heritage; the Irish language; youth, sport, recreation and amenities; and health and welfare projects. Lottery funding cannot be described as Exchequer or taxpayers' money. The fact of the matter is that the GAA has given far more to the Exchequer than it has received, by way of taxes that have accrued as a result of its investment in Croke Park and other grounds throughout the country, not to mention the employment and revenue generated by its activities.
Indeed, the association has not begrudged other sporting organisations which have received a commitment to comparatively massive Government funding with little relative investment of their own. - Yours, etc.,
DANNY LYNCH, PRO, GAA, Croke Park, Dublin 1.