John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I call for a debate on large-scale sports facilities similar to the one that took place in Dáil Éireann last week. A debate in this House with the Minister would be very welcome. Dundalk is the biggest town in Ireland, with one of the most successful football teams in the country and, in the case of Dundalk Football Club, a long and proud footballing tradition.Its stadium at Oriel Park, however, is reminiscent of a football ground in the 1960s or 1970s and that is why I am calling for a debate on large-scale infrastructure. There are sports capital grants, which are very useful and for which Dundalk FC is applying this time around, but we need large-scale financial assistance in the form of millions of euro, similar to the funding of between €3.5 million and €4.5 million received by Finn Harps a few years ago. Dundalk FC has a viable plan, alongside the local authority, but the Government should have that type of scheme to which clubs of all sport and none in situations like this can apply. In this context, such a scheme would be useful because if we can get the stadium to category 3 or category 4, it will be able to host European football. That lifts a whole town, regardless of the area. While I am being parochial and making a case for my town, this affects Gaelic games, rugby and all other sports throughout the country. That level of large-scale financial assistance needs to be considered. It is bigger than the sports capital grant. I would appreciate the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Byrne, coming to the House in order that we can put our views to him, discuss the matter and see what we can do to get many of these projects, particularly the redevelopment of Oriel Park, across the line.