Harold’s Cross deal would be expensive, says Richard Bruton

The Department of Education’s annual €30m budget for school sites could need to be doubled by its recent agreement to buy a Dublin greyhound track, a Fianna Fáil TD claims.

Education Minister Richard Bruton declined to confirm reports that the sale price agreed with Bord na gCon for the planned purchase of Harold’s Cross track was €23m.

The deal was announced by the minister a fortnight ago, although the price was not stated, as a planned location for new schools to be built in response to local population growth.