Following the announcement of the Governments Roadmap for reopening society and business, plus Croke Park's statement welcoming the proposals, Tipperary Co. Board would now like to take this opportunity to update our members and clubs on a few areas arising from the continuing Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Following on from the Croke Park statement we are instructing our clubs to continue to refrain from organising on-field activity. So, therefore, our GAA facilities must remain closed until July 20th as part of efforts to prevent gatherings which breach the restrictions. The GAA will issue detailed advice before any return to play; outlining the steps we have to take to facilitate the re-commencement of our training and games, both in terms of physical engagement and around the use of our facilities. Tipperary Co. Board is confident that we will still be able to play club competitions this year, subject of course to public health guidance. There will be a phased resumption of training at club level to allow players to prepare appropriately for playing games. We can confirm however that no inter-county games are expected to take place before October. The protection of all the people who play and attend our games is of paramount importance and must come before any on field activities. Getting our championships and leagues finalised in their present format will probably be impossible so over the coming weeks the County Management Committee and Co. CCC will draw up possible scenarios based on the potential time frames available. Naturally these will only be recommendations and will have to be approved by Co. Committee before seeking derogation from Croke Park to change our championship structures agreed at the 2019 Co Committee meeting.
The maintenance of facilities can continue whilst adhering to the guidelines and from May 18 construction work on our grounds is also permitted.
All clubs and players are reminded that the Player Injury Scheme is suspended and will remain so until an official return to action protocol is confirmed. All pre lockdown claims are being administered and paid in the normal manner. The Injury Benefit Fund is reliant both on a percentage of all championship gate receipts at provincial and central level which totalled €2.6m in 2019 combined with €5m approx. of annual club subscriptions. It is acknowledged that clubs have paid most of their subscriptions for 2020 and some are now requesting a potential rebate from the fund due to its current closure. This will not be possible in the short term as the scheme has current claims in existence for January, February and March and until there is full clarity around the resumption, timing and volume of the games programme (which will lead to further new claims) it will not be possible to work out or estimate any potential surplus until closer to the year end. At that point it may be possible to offer a partial rebate or potentially a significant reduction or extension on the 2021 scheme membership. The Injury benefit fund runs annually from January to December and clubs and counties have 60 days to lodge claims so the overall final position of the 2020 fund will not be known until the end of February 2021. The Injury Benefit Fund cover only applies to registered members as per the terms of the fund and we have been advised that some units have not yet registered their members for 2020.
Tipperary Co Board has received clarification that counties were given an extension / deferral of their 2020 Insurance premiums for April only. Clubs are reminded that membership and public liability will need to be in place for the return of our activities and are advised to pay their premiums in the weeks ahead.
The 2020 Insurance premium had been paid in full by Croke Park CLG to our Insurers Allianz & AIG and full Insurance cover (Property & Liability) remains in place despite the lockdown. A rebate of insurance premiums would not be considered by insurers at this time but the benefit of a reduced claims history during the crisis would be factored into upcoming insurance renewal negotiations. The collection of the outstanding insurance premiums as charged out to counties is now a fundamental and critical number in Croke Park's cashflow projections and collection of the premium is now both a necessity and a priority. Tipperary Co. Board must confirm this necessity and requirement for units to pay insurances and that any savings arising from the loss of activity in our Clubs and Counties would hopefully benefit the renewal premiums over the coming years. Unfortunately the current five years claims history of the Association is poor (specifically for non GAA activity) and this is currently one of the main factors that may potentially affect our insurance premiums next year.
During the week all Tipperary GAA Clubs will receive notice of their premium for 2020 along with their charge for membership registration (€2 per member) up to April 1st. For most clubs their Insurance premium will be similar to 2019. Once you receive this figure we are requesting that you forward a cheque to your Divisional Treasurer during this month of May and they will co-ordinate the collection within their Division on our behalf.
The Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw which was due to commence this month has been rescheduled to commence on Friday September 18th. We are confident there will be a full resumption of games activity well in advance of this date to allow clubs promote the draw. Lár na Páirce office personnel have already prepared the New Draw material and this is ready for collection for any individual clubs who wish to make an immediate start. The Final receipts for the 2019/20 Draw will not be posted out until August 1st which is just about six weeks before the first draw. Enclosed with the receipt will be details of an easy system for paying the new draw subscription on-line if preferred and thus avoiding promoters calling to members houses during the current pandemic.
Despite the current situation, the GAA continues to plan for the staging of this year's Kellogg's Cúl Camps in August and will communicate any changes to this approach with clubs if they arise.
Over 60 Tipperary clubs signed up to the Tipperary Covid 19 Forum and they all have played an important role in the community effort against the pandemic. We would like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of so many of our clubs and members in community assistance projects that they have been active in one way or another over the last eight weeks in helping those who need it most.
We also underline the importance of continuing to adhere to the guidelines to ensure that the country as a whole meets its targets in the coming weeks allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when it is safe to do so.
In the meantime look after each other and stay safe.
Congratulations to all involved with the Tipperary senior football panel and backroom team shave, dye or mo fund raising initiative which has reached €16,184 to date and surpassing its target in raising much needed funds for local charities.
On behalf of the players and management thanks to all who supported this venture, it is very much appreciated.
Congratulations also, to the 72 National Hurling and Football Referees who did a virtual championship run last Saturday and raised €26,056 to date in aid of Pieta House who aren’t able to run Darkness Into Light this year.
Tipperary Co. Board extends sympathy to the wife and extended family of the late Neil O'Dea R.I.P., who passed away recently. A native of Templemore, Neil played senior football with Tipperary in 1954, '55, '56 and '57 and was captain of the Thurles Crokes side that won the Tipperary Co. Senior football title in 1960. He received the Mid Tipp Hall of Fame Award and was also honoured with a Shean Gael Award in 2013. When work took Neil to Tuam he became actively involved with Tuam Stars and served many roles within the club.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
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