STADIUM AT TALLAGHT

                Following the failure of Mulden International Ltd and an associated company Slonepark Company Ltd, who held a lease from the Council of a 13 acre site at Whitestown Way, Tallaght, to complete a stadium on the lands as required under the terms of the lease, the Council commenced a process in 2004 to terminate the leases and recover possession of the lands to enable the Council to complete the stadium as a municipal facility.

                 The leases were subsequently terminated and the title to the stadium lands has reverted to the Council.

                 As the planning permission for the development had expired on 31^st October 2004, the Council commenced a consultation process in accordance with Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2003, on 18^th July 2005 for the completion of the stadium.

                 Following consideration of submissions received, the County Manager presented a report on the proposed stadium development in accordance with the Part 8 Regulations, to the members of the Council. This report was considered by the members at various meetings between November 2005 and February 2006 and culminated in the decision of the members of the Council at its meeting held on 13/02/06 to proceed with the development in accordance with the plans placed on public display. i.e. as a soccer stadium as recommended by the County Manager.

                 In order to establish a trail of accountability and experience and as the original building Contractor was still in possession of the site under the terms of the building Contract for Phase I of the stadium (3000 seats), it was considered that the best option to complete this phase, from an economical and timescale point of view, was to negotiate updated terms with the original design team and building contractor and this was agreed in principle by all parties.

                It had been hoped to commence works on site as soon as possible following the Councils decision at its meeting on 13/2/2006. However this decision became the subject of an application for judicial review, initiated by Thomas Davis GAA Club in April 2006, and accordingly the Council had to defer the finalisation of negotiations with the main building contractor pending the outcome of these proceedings.

                Following a hearing on the application in the High Court, the Court issued its decision on 30^th March 2007 to allow the appeal to proceed to a full hearing of the case.

                The full hearing of the case subsequently took place in the High Court on 16^th -18^th October 2007 and the Court delivered its decision on 14^th December 2007 and refused the reliefs sought by Thomas Davis GAA Club. A further period was allowed up to 18^th January 2008 for the Club to present its case if it wished to pursue to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court on a point of law.

                At the High Court hearing on 18-1-2008 Thomas Davis GAA Club sought leave to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court but this application was refused by the Court, which also awarded all costs against the applicant.

                The Judicial Review Proceedings taken against the Council unfortunately set the programme for completion of the stadium back by almost two years but the Council is now eager to move forward with the contract and have builders back on site as soon as possible.

                In this regard the Council is in contact with the Contractor who is expected to confirm a provisional date for commencement of works shortly.

                The Council is also making a formal submission to the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism for an allocation of funding towards the project from the Sports Capital Programme 2008.

                Bearing in mind the large youth population in the County, the Council is anxious to achieve its original objective of securing the locating of a top football club in the South Dublin County area to provide a focal point for the youth of the area and in this regard the Council proposes to honour its original commitment to provide a homebase for Shamrock Rovers F.C. by allowing them the use of the completed stadium for the playing of up to 40 home games per year.

                In addition to the use of the facilities by Shamrock Rovers FC, the Council anticipates that the stadium would accommodate other sporting, municipal and community events.

                It is expected that Phase 1 including playing surface will be completed by the end of 2008.

A meeting to review plans to resume construction work on the stadium site was held between Seamus Brennan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mayor South Dublin County Billy Gogarty and Senior County Council officials on Thursday 31^st. January 2008 at 11.00am in the Towers Hotel, Tallaght. A visit to the stadium site followed immediately afterwards.