Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

According to it, when the board first considered purchasing the site in 2003, almost 14 acres were on offer for €2.2 million as opposed to the €3.4 million that was paid. However, the board's auctioneers and engineers had estimated a minimum of a further €1.5 million to be spent on fill. On this basis, the board decided not to proceed, as it was believed that the cost of filling the site was too high and that it was too risky to know whether the cost would stop there.

In 2003, the board had the foresight to realise that there could be significant filling costs and decided to step away from the project on that basis.