Mr. Richard Shakespeare:

It has been no secret for quite some time that when the redevelopment of Dalymount Park was first mooted it would need to be funded by both Dublin City Council and the Exchequer and that the city council's funding would be raised by way of levies and the sale of Tolka Park. For all intents and purposes, Tolka Park is private and it is not used day to day or week to week. People have to pay to access it. It is a run-down football stadium, as is Dalymount Park. One well-equipped and well-functioning 6,000-seat, multipurpose stadium would probably be of more benefit to the community than two poor stadiums. I know there is a "Save Tolka Park" movement but the land could be sold to an approved housing body. At no point have I said that it will be sold to private developers. The better outcome for everybody and for every football fan in the city would be a fully functioning Dalymount Park.