Vol. 443 No. 4
11 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Education if, in dispensing the £5 million funding allocation to the GAA for the development of Croke Park, she will ensure that the GAA is required to spend adequately on traffic and security measures in the adjacent communities.
188 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is great concern among residents in the vicinity of Croke Park that she has made available a grant of £5 million to the GAA for the development of Croke Park without attaching any conditions especially in relation to parking problems on days of major sporting events.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 188 together.
The grant of £5 million in respect of the Croke Park development, which is being administered under my Department's major sports facilities programme, is subject to the normal terms and conditions applicable to all Exchequer funded capital projects, including the requirement that planning permission be obtained.
Any planning permission conditions in respect of car parking requirements are a matter between Cumman Luthchleas Gael and Dublin Corporation. I am aware, however, that the planning permission granted by Dublin Corporation outlines in great detail the conditions which have to be met by the GAA in the interests of residential amenity, safety and the avoidance of traffic hazard.
As this question was raised during the debate on the Estimates I have some idea of the way the Minister of State is thinking. Is he aware that when there is a match in Croke Park the local community is under siege, that many people cannot gain access to their own homes, that people drink late into the night on the pavement and that there is a major problem with litter? There is a feeling in the community that the Minister of State in disbursing these funds could be of assistance in impressing on the GAA that there is a need to do more and to implement in full the conditions attached to planning permission for the extension. Will the Minister of State keep the promise he made during the debate on the Estimates and have a further word with the GAA about this matter and its impact on this settled and quite community which has hosted this important institution for a long period, not without significant cost?
As a regular attender at Croke Park I am aware of this problem.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Parking facilities under the stand.
We will put an end to that this year.
I am aware of the Deputy's concern; she tabled parliamentary questions on several occasions and raised the issue during the recent debate on the Estimates when I promised to write to the Croke Park authorities, which I did. This is a matter between the GAA authorities and Dublin Corporation but, judging from the conditions imposed which have been upheld by An Bord Pleanála, there is an improvement. Phases 2 and 3 of this development cannot proceed until at least 12 months after the completion of phase 1. This is an indication of the commitment of Dublin Corporation whose decision was upheld by An Bord Pleanála. The views of local people were taken into consideration.
Will the Minister of State let us have copies of any replies he receives from Croke Park on these specific issues?
I will be delighted to do that.
In view of the fact that £5 million of taxpayers' money is being given to the GAA authorities for the improvement of Croke Park, will the Minister make it a condition that Croke Park will be available for international football matches?
This question relates to parking, traffic and security measures.
They are getting excited about the World Cup.
The Deputy will not be in Croke Park for quite a while.
Will the Deputy bet on it?
If any sporting organisation or governing body is prepared to spend in excess of £100 million on any development I will give them a hearing. There were no string's attached to the grant of £5 million.
GAA rules.
Will the Minister of State confirm that no special conditions were attached to the grant of £5 million other than the normal condition attached to any grant from the Exchequer, to which he referred, that planning permission be obtained? Is the Minister aware that there is a sense of outrage that £5 million of taxpayers' money is being given to the GAA for this development without the Government availing of the opportunity to ensure that the GAA authorities make some reasonable effort to deal with the massive problems caused for residents when a major sporting event is held in the stadium? As Deputy Flaherty said, streets are strewn with litter after the event and the area is choked with traffic. The Croke Park authorities have refused to provide any community facility, let alone, as Deputy Gilmore said, allow international soccer matches to be played in this huge development. Allied to this——
That should be adequate, Deputy.
——there are virtually no local people employed on this development. Will the Minister of State — this is a waste of time — at least convey these points to the GAA authorities?
I am disappointed that no one mentioned that when people visit Croke Park they spend money. I covered two of the points raised by the Deputy. I am aware that people are concerned and because of this I have written to the GAA authorities. I will communicate with the Deputies when a response comes to hand. On the question of planning permission, I do not think the Deputy would want me or any Department to interfere with Dublin Corporation, the statutory body charged with the responsibility of administering the planning laws in Dublin. Its decisions have been upheld by An Bord Pleanála and the application was dealt with thoroughly. There are 34 stringent conditions and the concerns of local people were taken into consideration. Work on phases 2 and 3 will be carefully monitored. When I receive the response of the Croke Park authorities I will let the Deputies have a copy.
Will the Minister of State confirm that there were no special conditions attached?
There were no strings attached.
