Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin, and thank him sincerely for his attendance. As he is aware, many towns in the Border region suffered due to the Troubles in Northern Ireland and while, thankfully, that day is now very much in the past, it has left a devastation in many towns. For example, it is fair to say that, in County Monaghan, no town has suffered as much as Clones. Given its close proximity to the Border, Clones had many roads closed during the Troubles and, indeed, those that were open to those wishing to visit Clones were subject to military checkpoints and the delays that come with that. As a result, many businesses have suffered down through the years.

Thankfully, however, the people of Clones have kept the light on and they are fighting back, and they are a very resilient people. One of the shining lights, if I can use that expression, during all of the darks days has been St. Tiernach's Park in Clones, where the Ulster football final is held every year. The first final dates back to 1906.On that day, Monaghan overcame the Gaels of Antrim to win the Ulster final in Clones. Since then, thousands of people have visited the facility every July for what is one of the great sporting occasions of the year. It is fair to say that it has been recognised by commentators the length and breadth of the country that no venue can match what Clones has to offer on Ulster final day. The Minister of State is a good Kerryman so might argue with that. Most neutral observers would say that because of the narrow streets and warm welcome the people of Clones offer to all visitors from Ulster and further afield on that day, it is a unique occasion and one to be experienced. I know Kerry is quite busy at that time of year, but I would like to invite the Minister of State to this year's Ulster final so that he might experience this unique occasion for himself.

The Government has allocated €50 million to upgrade football stadiums throughout the country. I am making a case for St. Tiernach's Park in Clones. It is a fabulous facility capable of holding over 30,000 people, which is a sizeable amount. I understand it is the eighth largest stadium in the country. It needs refurbishment and the facilities it has to offer need a lift. I would like to make a strong case for the Minister of State to seriously consider St. Tiernach's Park for funding for an upgrade. It has the potential to become a regional centre.

Clones recently opened a new peace park which is a fantastic sporting facility that adds to the many things it has to offer. We now need some money from the Minister of State so that we can upgrade the facilities. It is not just that Clones will look after the people of Monaghan and Ulster, it can also cater for events that would attract individuals from across the entire country.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Gallagher. I very much appreciate him raising this important matter.

The venue in question is synonymous with everything that constitutes Ulster football. As the Senator said, the Ulster final is one of the great occasions on the football calendar. What is special about a facility such as St. Tiernach's Park is the fact it is a town-centre facility and it helps create a fantastic feeling and experience for people on the day of the final. I am very familiar with Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, which offers quite a similar experience. I was in Mullingar yesterday and visited Cusack Park. The point was made that it is also located near the town centre. These types of stadium give events an exceptional feel because they are located in the middle of towns, which benefits local economies and creates a festive atmosphere.

I visited Clones in September at the request of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and was accompanied on the day by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and members of the Monaghan county board, the Ulster council and the árd stiúrthóir, Páraic Duffy. I saw first hand the situation there and agreed that there needs to be investment, in particular on the health and safety front. A number of other areas also require investment. This is something I would like to see go ahead.

We were brought to the Peace Link to see the fantastic facility that has been developed in very close proximity to St. Tiernach's Park. It is a very impressive and is an excellent facility. When one stands on the track and looks to the left, one can see that the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, is developing facilities for the area. Clones has a great opportunity to become a fantastic sports hub. Everything is within walking distance. We put funding into the area and want to do so in the future.

The most recent sports capital programme delivered €60 million throughout the country for over 1,800 successful applications. We know the funding requirement for St. Tiernach's Park is higher than the threshold for the regional or local sports capital programme. Projects like this and other projects which are seeking large investment from the State to be met, in most cases, with investment from sporting, voluntary or community bodies point to the need for a larger scale project scheme. That is why the Minister, Deputy Ross, and I campaigned for the introduction of a new large scale project scheme in the most recent budget.

We were able to secure €50 million which can be drawn down from 2019 to 2021. We are in the process of drawing up the scheme. We are considering all of the terms and conditions, how the scheme could be administered and what the best use of public money would be in respect of the scheme. It may be one which is suitable for St. Tiernach's Park at some stage. I hope to open the scheme in the coming months. It is something I am very anxious to see proceed because there are many facilities around the country which require large investment from the State. They are now waiting to progress their applications and I am keen to see those projects going ahead.

This is something I know is critically important in the overall scheme of things in terms of economics. What the State might invest in St. Tiernach's Park would be matched by the economy of this jurisdiction with one, two or three Ulster finals. The economics of the project make sense. As the Senator pointed out, we have to acknowledge that this area along the Border was devastated for over three decades during the Troubles and needs additional help even now, 20 years on from the Good Friday agreement. Catching up needs to be done in certain areas.

As Minister of State with special responsibility for sport, I want to be able to assist in whatever way I can. This matter is very much on our radar. As I said, when I visited the area in September with the Ministers, Deputies Heather Humphreys and Ross, I saw, at first hand, what needs to be done and how there is a compelling argument for the investment to be made. I know the project has the backing of the county board, the Ulster council and the árd stiúrthóir in terms of it being a priority for the GAA. We intend to pursue the project and find the correct avenue as soon as possible.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his contribution, to which I was very heartened to listen. He made the argument for Clones very well. It has the potential to become a sporting hub, not just for County Monaghan but for the entire northern part of our country. One cannot underestimate the economic benefits that the Ulster final brings to a town like Clones. Local people have embraced with open arms the visitors who come to Clones on Ulster final day. It is a significant benefit to the business community and Clones needs a helping hand from the Government. I hope that the Minister will see fit to make an allocation so that the facility can be upgraded and we can promote Clones as a sporting hub throughout the northern part of our country.