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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Glanmire FAI lands

Summary

Colm Burke highlights that 30 acres leased for an FAI sports complex have remained idle; the Taoiseach says a local club may take a lease following public consultation.

The Government provides funding to the FAI. A memorandum of agreement was signed in December 2024 with €6 million a year paid to it. Back in 2011 and 2012 Cork County Council engaged with the FAI with a view to providing land to it. Eventually in 2017 it leased 30 acres in Brooklodge in Glanmire. This land has lain idle since, even though a sport complex was to be built there. My understanding is that there was to be further engagement about the use of these 30 acres. Glanmire is an area where we have Sarsfields GAA club as well as a camogie club and Glanmire football, soccer and rugby clubs. They are all looking for space for a growing young population. This 30 acres is lying idle and I ask that the Taoiseach's Department would engage with Cork County Council and the FAI with a view to the lease being surrendered back to the county council so we can start from scratch with developing 30 acres of sports facilities, which are so badly needed.

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I remember well when all of that happened. In fairness, the county council entered into all of that in very good faith with the FAI. My understanding is that a local soccer club, Riverstown, is on the cusp of entering a lease agreement, and the council will go out to public consultation on all of it to engage with all of the interested parties in terms of the utilisation of the land.

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