COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, October 21, 2019

QUESTION NO. 30

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

"To ask the CEO to update members on his plans for the further development of Tallaght Stadium and in reporting will he also confirm actions being taken to further promote the use of the Stadium and make a statement?"

REPLY:

"The proposed development of the North Stand and remodelled Main Stand, continues with the appointment of the Design Team Architects in September 2019. Cooney Architects were appointed following a procurement process that took place during 2019.

Cooney Architects will develop detailed plans for both the proposed new North Stand and and also the remodelled Corporate Area of the Main Stand ,which will be brought forward to the Members through the Part 8 process. The Part 8 consultation process will commence in Q4 2019. It is anticpated that the capacity of the stadium will increase from 8,000 currently, to over 10,000 spectators, with the development of the North Stand.

The Stadium continues to attract top class sporting events to the County, including an attendance of over 7,000 for the Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians Airtricity League game on the 30th August, which is a record for a regular league fixture for the venue. The FAI Womens National Team game against Ukraine on 8th October, had an attendance of 5,328, a record for a Womens International game in Ireland. The FAI Mens U/21 Team game against Italy on 10th October, attracted an attendance of 7,231 ,which the FAI state is a record for an U21 International in Ireland. The UEFA U/17 European Championships in May, were a great success with seven games taking place in the Stadium, including the Final. The venue is rated Category 4 per UEFA standards, which allows the venue to continue to attract international games including the Senior Womens Internationals and U21 Mens teams to the venue, as well as hosting European club games, which in 2019, included two games involving Shamrock Rovers and one involving Dundalk.

Other recent events that have taken place in the Stadium include the South Dublin Local Enterprise Awards, a Local Enterprise Office Brexit Event, Engineers Week events, Bank of Ireland Enterprise Town event as well as several Public Participation Network events. In addition Demense Electrical held an Electrical Exhibition and Showcase in the Stadium in September. We are hopeful of attracting events like the Ice Rink and Circus back to the Stadium for the Christmas/New Year season.

We will continue to try and maximise usage of the Stadium and will endeavour to attract events both sporting and non-sporting to the venue, including business and community events. It is anticipated that with the proposed development of the improved Corporate Area in the Main Stand, that the venue will attract even more business and corporate events as well as becoming an unique venue for hosting weddings. We will continue to encourage visitors to the venue from both within the County and also from outside the County as well."