Morton Stadium will continue as athletics venue, vows minister
Bohemians football club has been negotiating the sale or lease of Morton Stadium with the owners, Fingal County Council. Last week, Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim John Perry asked the minister if his attention had been drawn to the vital importance of the stadium to the promotion of track and field athletics in Ireland over the past 50 years.
He also asked the minister if he would take the necessary steps to ensure that the facility continued to be a high-quality athletics stadium available to the sport.
The minister said, that while Morton Stadium was owned and operated by Fingal County Council, he appreciated its importance to athletics.
“For this reason, in 2003, I directed that funding of up to €200,000 per annum should be provided in financial support towards the operational costs and upkeep of the stadium,” he said.
“Since 2002, a very significant level of exchequer-funded support has been provided by the Irish Sports Council to enable the stadium to continue in operation, amounting in total to €792,000.”
He said that, in addition, funding in excess of €2.74m had been provided in capital grants through his department for improvement of the stadium’s facilities over the past few years, including €275,000 in 2003 for refurbishment in preparation for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Also, €245,000 was allocated in 2004 for refurbishment of the track and specific athletic facilities.
Fingal County Council is assisted in the running of Morton Stadium by a management committee that includes representatives of both the Irish Sports Council and Mr O’Donoghue’s department.
“The management committee’s objective is to ensure that the stadium and its facilities are maintained at an acceptable standard and remain available for use as a training facility and for major spectator events by athletics,” the minister said.
“Any future proposals for the use of Morton Stadium will be considered so as to ensure that the stadium is operated in a cost effective and efficient manner and continues to be available to meet the needs of athletics.”
Athletics Ireland chief executive Brendan Hackett said they welcomed the minister’s statement on an issue which had been of concern to them.
“Not being owners of Morton Stadium and not being directly represented on the management committee, we are not partial to any negotiations taking place. Obviously we are greatly relieved to hear the minister’s assurances,” he said.