The long-awaited redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann is finally set to go ahead after delegates approved a scaled back version of the original plans at last night’s Meath county committee gathering in Dunganny.

Delegates also heard that sufficient finance is now in place and work is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2024 and will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

The new plans for the redevelopment were outlined in a presentation by Noel Dempsey chairman of the infrastructure committee.

Noel Dempsey outlined the different steps following the decision back in 2015 to redevelop the county grounds to when the project had to be put on hold in 2022 because of increased costs and inflation.

It was originally planned to commence work on the north terrace but those plans have now been shelved and instead the south side of the ground will be developed with the demolition of the existing stand and the erection of a new 5,000 capacity all seater stand.

The new building will consist of four dressing rooms, toilets at each end, medical room, drug testing room, match officials room, Control room for crowd safety officer, facilities for print and broadcasting media, Ard Comhairle area with meeting room nearby.

There will be a wheelchair area to the front under roof cover and with unobstructed views. There will also be an equipment storage area and a players exit to pitch from the centre of the stand. Floodlighting will also be installed as well as an irrigation system and the embankments behind both goals will be upgraded.

Noel Dempsey assured delegates that the work wouldn’t encroach on the pitch surface and the venue would still be open for matches, including Allianz Leagues games. When completed it will bring the capacity of the ground up to 20,000. Noel Dempsey said the work could be scheduled so that it would only impact one Allianz League campaign.

In addition to the funds already secured including €6.2 from the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund which is still in place, grants from Croke Park and Leinster Council and €2m from the Immigrant Investment Programme other sources of funding has been identified the largest of which is another €10.8m from IIP applicants which are being processed at present with full payment expected in the second quarter of 2024.

Other funding will be sourced from Naming Rights, pre sale of tickets, Royal Way and the development fund.

Several delegates voiced their approval for the project and it was given the green light by all present.

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