Push for funding for Louth GAA stadium

Just days before Louth won the Leinster Championship for the first time in 68 years, Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú urged the government to ensure that funding is provided to the GAA stadium in Dundalk.

The Dundalk TD asked Minister Charlie McConalogue to confirm that the Louth GAA stadium is on the ‘reserve list’ for the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), and said that it was ‘a really great time for Louth football’.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “We all welcome the engagement and the package agreed for the first phase of development of the Louth GAA stadium in Dundalk. It is €24 million.

“I am aware that Louth GAA is on the reserve list for the scheme and I would like to think that decent consideration would be given to this.

“Does the Minister of State have any further update on the timeline and how projects on the reserve list, such as Louth GAA, could get further? Even beyond that, what timeline are we looking at for the reopening of LSSIF into the future?

“The idea is to make sure that we are talking about projects that are ready for the road, that are fit to be built straightaway and that there are no delays with”.

In response, Minister McConalogue said: “The potential for additional funding is something we have to consider. That is very much subject to the budgetary capacity for that and, alongside that, the capacity for a reserve list as well for those applicants not successful previously.

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“I know the benefit it would be to County Louth. It is great to see the stadium progressing and Louth GAA moving forward with it. Certainly, we will consider it in the context of future funding opportunities as well in phase two”.

Deputy Ó Murchú urged the minister to ensure that the stadium would be positively considered when finding becomes available, sooner rather than later. He said: “It is necessary that LSSIF funding would follow through for the stadium in Dundalk.

“My understanding was Louth GAA and Drogheda United were on that reserve list. The argument that was made was shovel-ready projects would get first dibs but given what is happening, particularly with Louth stadium, the first phase of which will be under way, we have to consider additional funding. We have to make sure that happens”.