GPA chief executive Tom Parsons believes every county team should be given money towards an end-of-season holiday.

Currently, the GAA provides a dedicated holiday fund grant of €150,000 to the All-Ireland SFC and SHC finalists, but Parsons feels funding should be extended to every county to help negate the exodus of Gaelic football talent to Aussie Rules.

“I think every team should be given a few bob at the end of the year to go on a team holiday," the former Mayo midfielder said on Ian O’Connell’s Stand Out programme on Radio Kerry.

“These are small things that I’ve been having conversations with the powers-that-be in Government in terms of funding to inter-county and the GAA. It’s important we look after them to the best of our ability.

“That’s where the GAA and the Government need to say, ‘Right, we have athletes here who could potentially go off and be professional athletes and they’ve opted not to do that. They’re opting to give their whole selves to Gaelic games. How can we better support them?

“Whether that’s a scholarship or help them with their education, whether that’s making sure they’re not out of pocket with all the travelling, food and nutrition. There’s a role on the Government and there’s a role on the GAA to say, ‘These athletes aren’t paid but we need to look after them.’"

Parsons added: "It just looks like everybody is enjoying their football and ‘isn’t it a great privilege to represent your county?’ Of course it is, but the reality is we have 30% of those lads will be students who haven’t a penny to their name, can’t afford to buy the chicken fillet rolls.

“Jack O’Connor will be telling them, ‘No way will you be working up in the bar in Killarney until 1am in the morning.’ There are a lot of challenges that players face and I’m passionate about pushing the GAA every year to do more and represent the women more.”

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