An urgent call has been issued to the government to put its full support behind the redevelopment of Dalymount stadium in Dublin.

Labour Senator Marie Sherlock, Deputy Aodhan Ó Ríordáin and Labour's Spokesperson on Sport Mark Wall together with Labour Councillors Deputy Lord Mayor Joe Costello, Councillor Jane Horgan Jones and Cllr Declan Meenagh all called for the government to pledge funding and support to the project.

This project would see Dalymount redeveloped into a UEFA category three stadium.

The call comes on foot of news of a recommendation by Dublin City Council (DCC) Chief Executive Owen Keegan to Councillors that Tolka Park should not be rezoned for residential use. This change of policy by the DCC executive is now likely to mean that the site will not be sold to fund the development of Dalymount Park. While Labour Oireachtas members and councillors have previously expressed serious concern about the proposed sale of Tolka Park to fund Dalymount's redevelopment and have called on the Government to fully meet the costs, this latest recommendation by DCC now puts a firm spotlight on Dalymount's future. The current plan for Dalymount Stadium is to redevelop it into a UEFA category 3 stadium and for those works to commence this year in 2022. Since 2015, Dublin City Council has spent millions working on the plans for the new stadium, including the €900,000 received from the Government last year.

-- Advertisement --

Senator Sherlock said: "This latest development must not mean the end of the Dalymount plan. It is vital that the Government now clarify that they will make available the necessary funding to proceed. Government has committed itself to growing football in this country in the run up to the Euros in 2028. Fully supporting the redevelopment the 'Home of Irish Football' must form a key part of this plan."