IRFU & FAI Must Consult with Community
Published: 28 January, 2003
Sinn Féin's Daithí Doolan, while welcoming the government announcement to give the go ahead with the proposed development of Lansdowne Road, called on the Irish Rugby Football Union to engage fully with the community when developing Lansdowne Road Stadium.
"Now that the reports, debates and political wrangling is over it is time to focus on the real issues and engage with the community."
Speaking ahead of tonight's public meeting with residents, Doolan said that, "While I support and am committed to enhancing our sports facilities across Dublin and here at Lansdowne Road, I also firmly believe that the 300 million Euro development of Lansdowne Stadium needs to happen as part of an overall plan for the communities that surround our National Stadium.
While the stadium will undergo the much needed upgrading the actual capacity will remain at 50,000 so as avoiding any super stadium being on our doorsteps.
At tonight's meeting I will be calling on the IRFU representatives to give a commitment to work in consultation with this community. For far too long the debate on developing this stadium has all but ignored the residents who will live here long after the headlines are gone and political egos satisfied.
Both the Gardaí and Dublin City Council need to assure locals that a comprehensive traffic plan including clamping will be implemented. The number of major concerts needs to be negotiated and agreed with the residents who have to live with the consequences of such events.
And of course there needs to a serious upgrading of the public transport system in this part of Dublin. Only in this way will the venue be made attractive to access and easy to depart from. This upgrade needs to include a 'park and ride' facility and increased bus and DART service."
Doolan concluded by encouraging all those involved to "Work in partnership to ensure that any development of this stadium will become a beacon for sport in the capital. I hope tonight's meeting goes some way to laying the foundation for this development."
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