Significant progress has been undertaken on the Finn Harps stadium development which could finally see the completion of the project in Stranorlar.
Minister Joe McHugh has written to Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan thanking Department officials following a positive meeting with representatives of the Club recently.
The meeting had been arranged by Minister McHugh on behalf of the club.
Minister McHugh said: “I want to pay tribute to the stadium committee at Finn Harps for their incredible diligence throughout recent negotiations. I understand now that Finn Harps have a number of relatively minor issues to resolve and I am confident the hard-working committee will be able to do this in a couple of months.’’
“At the outset, the Department outlined that their desire was to find a solution in order to get the project completed. The Club confirmed that they were committed to finding a solution, and the recent meeting between the Department and the club took place with that in mind.”
The Department has advised McHugh that they require some updated details in relation to design, specifications and costings from the Club.
Minister McHugh confirmed that “the Club asked if the Department would finalise their subsequent assessment of costings within a reasonably short timeframe, and the Department indicated that there would be no delays in this regard.”
“As a result I have written to the Minister asking that once Finn Harps provide the additional information, that funding for the completion of the project should be released,” said McHugh.
“I hope now that any final details can be signed off so this project can move forward quickly and Finn Harps can move to their new home in early 2019.”
Cllr Martin Harley said: “I also want to congratulate all those at Finn Harps FC for their sterling work in bringing this important project to fruition.
“Once the stadium is completed, Donegal County Council will work to provide additional football pitches adjacent to the stadium which will help the sport develop in the county. I want to thank Deputy Joe McHugh for arranging meetings with the Department and we can all now look forward to this important project being completed.”