Funding for Oriel Park development raised by Louth politicians in the Oireachtas

The issue of funding for the redevelopment of Oriel Park was raised in the Oireachtas recently by three local representatives. 

Dundalk FC recently issued the findings of their Development Group tasked with exploring avenues to redevelop the stadium and confirmed that they have applied for Sports Capital Grant funding.

Additionally the club have said funding is currently being sought to allow the club to appoint a consultant to prepare a final strategic plan for the redevelopment of Oriel Park.

In the Seanad on Tuesday, Senator John McGahon called for a debate on funding for large scale sports facilities.

The senator said that:

“Oriel Park  is reminiscent of a football ground in the 1960s or 1970s and that is why I am calling for a debate on large-scale infrastructure. 

“There are sports capital grants, which are very useful and for which Dundalk FC is applying this time around, but we need large-scale financial assistance in the form of millions of euro, similar to the funding of between €3.5 million and €4.5 million received by Finn Harps a few years ago. 

“Dundalk FC has a viable plan, alongside the local authority, but the Government should have that type of scheme to which clubs of all sport and none in situations like this can apply. 

“In this context, such a scheme would be useful because if we can get the stadium to category 3 or category 4, it will be able to host European football. That lifts a whole town, regardless of the area.”

Senator McGahon concluded by requesting that Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne come to discuss the matter.

Speaking in the Dail on the same issue, Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick said the the ageing artificial playing surface at Oriel was resulting in unwarranted injuries and also affects performance and potential European funding. 

He also said there was an ongoing lack of capacity as regards facilities, which is  strangling growth. 

Yet, even just to qualify for a grant a club must own its facilities or have at least 15 years remaining on a lease, which excludes hundreds of clubs from eligibility for the sports capital grant programme. 

Deputy Fitzpatrick called for an increase of capital funding saying: 

“We need to increase capital funding for sports facilities and provide communities with the modern sports facilities they urgently need. 

“By investing in our grassroots, we are investing in our sporting future. Given the growth in sports of all kinds and the changing demographics, the demand for better facilities will get bigger and bigger.”

Sinn Fein TD Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú raised the issue in the Dail, speaking last Thursday he said:

“I am fairly sure the Minister of State welcomes the good news for Drogheda United on funding from a professionalisation point of view. 

“If we are talking about development of a new stadium, that is what is needed in the League of Ireland as regards sustainability. That is the big byword. 

“Obviously we have a particular high that is ongoing in respect of soccer and League of Ireland. 

“A club I support, Dundalk F.C., is involved with the local authorities and others to develop a viable project to upgrade Oriel Park. 

“With all the great history that Dundalk F.C. has, it is a stadium that is in real need of work. We would be looking at the likes of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund as a possible solution to part of this problem into the future.”