Finn Harps express disappointment after Donegal Community Stadium is excluded from government grant

Premier Division Finn Harps have expressed their disappointment following the news that the Donegal Community Stadium has been excluded from the funding approvals announced by the Department of Sport.

The Donegal Community Stadium had been previously approved, but it was scaled back due to the recession where work was halted.

However, the project was resumed in 2017 – but this latest setback has left the Co. Donegal outfit concerned that this latest pause will only cause costs to rise in the future.

A statement from Finn Harps read; “Finn Harps wish to express our disappointment at the exclusion of the Donegal Community Stadium Project from the funding approvals announced by the Dept. of Sport in recent days. 

“The project had previously been approved by the Department of Sport, and commenced on site, with substantial work carried out. However, the Dept were unable to continue funding during the recession and work ceased.

“In 2017, given the original commitment to the project and the fact that significant funding was already incurred, the Department proposed a new model to deliver the project, and the Club agreed to same. Since then the Club have implemented what has been required in line with the new model proposed and received a Department allocation in respect of same last year. The Club understood that final funding approval was imminent to complete the main stand, pitch floodlights and ancillary facilities, and is surprised and disappointed that the project has not been included at this time. The project is 'shovel ready', with detailed design, bill of quantities, planning permission etc all in place.

“The Club welcomes that fact that the Department have already committed and spent over €1m on the project, however, we are concerned that further delays are only going to result in increased costs, and the structures already in place on site will deteriorate. In conclusion, the project cannot be delivered without the support and approval of the Department of Sport. We have not yet had any formal communication from the Department, but we understand that this will be forthcoming within the coming week or two. The Club will be following up with the Department to determine when the commitments already given to the project will be implemented.”