Chairman John Kavanagh delivered some good news as well as disappointing news regarding finance for the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann at last night's county committee meeting.

The chairman said work was continuing in the background regarding Pairc Tailteann and meetings had taken place with the National Finance Committee in Croke Park.

In recent days confirmation was received of a contribution of just €1.6m for the development over a four year period from Croke Park, well below what was expected prior to the pandemic. Leinster Council had given a commitment of €400,000, bringing the funding to €2m which Kavanagh described as 'very disappointing.'

Kavanagh said they would be pressing for an advance of funding from both bodies but understood their hands were tied to an extent due to the massive financial hit the association took in 2020.

However Kavanagh had more positive news on another source of funding, The Immigrant Investment Programme. This programme was set up by the Government back in 2012 aimed at facilitating migrant entrepreneurs and investors from outside the European Economic Area who, in return for permission to reside in the State, are prepared to invest in certain projects.

The chairman said this was something his committee had been working on over the past 12 months and they had already secured one investor to the tune of €4000,000 with four more for the same amount in the pipeline. Fees of 15% must be paid on every €400,000 secured.

Kavanagh said a lot of work had gone into this by the infrastructure committee while Croke Park had also been involved and complimented Meath on their 'outside the box' thinking.

He assured delegates that there was 'no hidden agendas' involved in the process and also stated that there was no limit to the number of investors.

Regarding correspondence from former county chairman Barney Allen about the development the chairman said they had replied to the letter and reaffirmed that no land had been handed over to Meath County Council and that car park space would remain exactly what it was previously, and that everything was 100% above board.

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