GPA and GAA reach agreement on squad sizes, contact hours and mileage with new charter agreement

The Gaelic Players Association has communicated details of the 2023 charter agreement with the GAA to its membership.

Details of the charter were relayed to players this evening.

A contact hours policy has been agreed with the GAA. This will incorporate two junctures in the season - in December and January – when five intercounty collective training sessions are permitted.

Aside from that four sessions per week will be held.

There will be no cap on squads, meaning that panels are no longer restricted to 32 players for training and reimbursement.

The standard rate where a player travels on their own to training has risen from 65c per mile to 70c per mile. It's understood that player has clocked up 7,000 miles in travel the rate of expense drops to 40c per mile.

An emphasis placed on car-pooling for the season ahead. A rate of €1, called the green rate, is payable where two or more players travel together. It’s believed this rate is applicable for up to 6,000 miles. It drops to 60c per mile thereafter.

The new charter sees an increase of 1.8% based on miles travelled in 2022.

With a focus on car-pooling, the GAA is hopeful that there will be considerable savings for its counties.

An equivalent arrangement will be in place for players training with teams in the north where there is a different tax regime and expenses are capped at 45p a mile. Food allowances for players in those counties will rise accordingly.

Meanwhile, students across the 32 counties will receive a bursary of €300 each to recognise the huge financial challenges facing those in third level who find it hard to take up part-time work because of their inter-county commitments.

It is understood that the GAA at central level could also look at supporting county boards who