Latest news with #HorseRacingIreland
The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Land at Leopardstown Racecourse to be developed for 800 homes after transfer to LDA
AN AGREEMENT HAS been reached to transfer the ownership of land at Leopardstown Racecourse from Horse Racing Ireland to the Land Development Agency, which both bodies said could be the site of 800 new homes. The Land Development Agency (LDA) will take control of roughly 17 acres from Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), while design and planning for the new housing development will begin immediately, the two state bodies said in a joint statement today. 'Subject to planning, the LDA land will be used to deliver new, A-rated homes, which will be located next to the existing, but currently unused Leopardstown Luas stop,' the statement said. Leopardstown Racecourse has a Luas stop on the Green Line but it has been inactive since it opened in 2010 due to a lack of infrastructure. The LDA and HRI said they would work collaboratively and in consultation with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on a new 'masterplan' for Leopardstown, which they said will deliver 'much-needed affordable housing and protect and further develop the leading racecourse and its extensive racing and non-racing facilities'. Advertisement The land was first identified as having the potential for housing in the Housing for All plan, which was first published in 2021. Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said he was 'delighted' by the agreement. 'Solving the housing challenge requires collaboration across our society, from government to a range of private and public bodies,' Martin said, adding that he was looking forward to seeing similar developments in the future. Housing Minister James Browne said the LDA 'has the resources it needs to deliver housing at scale and has proven that it can do so quickly to a very high standard'. 'The LDA already has a strong pipeline of development land, but it's crucial that it is able to access more, especially State-owned land like this with the potential to deliver a high number of homes in a well located and well-serviced area.' Browne also encouraged other bodies to follow HRI's lead by reviewing their land holdings and discussing possible transfers with the LDA 'as a matter of urgency.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
HRI and LDA to develop Leopardstown campus, 800 new homes
The Land Development Agency (LDA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have reached an agreement on the transfer of land with the potential to deliver 800 homes at Leopardstown Racecourse in south Dublin Both parties have reached an agreement that will see HRI transfer ownership of c.17 acres of land to the LDA. The new development will be served by the activation of a new Luas station located on the site. The two state bodies will work collaboratively and in consultation with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on a new masterplan for Leopardstown, which will deliver much-needed affordable housing and protect and further develop the leading racecourse and its extensive racing and non-racing facilities. The land transfer follows positive engagement between the LDA and HRI to ensure the best outcome for both parties. Design and planning work on the site-wide masterplan and proposed housing development will commence immediately. Subject to planning, the LDA land will be used to deliver new, A-rated homes, which will be located next to the existing, but currently unused Leopardstown Luas stop. The area surrounding Leopardstown Racecourse is well located next to the M50 and the Green Luas line. It also benefits from a range of services and amenities. Land at HRI's campus in Leopardstown was first identified as having the potential for housing in the Government's Housing for All plan. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD commended the LDA and HRI for reaching the agreement. "The LDA has the resources it needs to deliver housing at scale and has proven that it can do so quickly to a very high standard. The LDA already has a strong pipeline of development land, but it's crucial that it is able to access more, especially State-owned land like this with the potential to deliver a high number of homes in a well located and well-serviced area," said Minister Brown. "This decision by HRI will have a lasting impact and it can be proud of the significant contribution it has made to help address the country's urgent housing need." The site that can accomodate 800 new homes pending planning approve is described by LDI CEO John Coleman as a development in an area of great housing need in Dublin. "This transfer of State-owned land to the LDA is a leading example of what can be achieved when state bodies are open to making the best use of land they own and work with the LDA to facilitate the delivery of much-need affordable homes while safeguarding their own existing and future needs," said Mr Coleman "The LDA is now under construction on 16 sites for over 5,000 homes across the country and we will be adding further new construction starts in the coming months," he said. Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland said: "For an industry that contributes in excess of €2.46bn to the Irish economy annually, the agreement safeguards our plans to further develop the Leopardstown Racecourse campus and to improve what is already a proven world-class horse racing facility, while fostering a sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood benefiting the greater Dublin area.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Lands near Leopardstown Racecourse to be developed for housing following long-awaited deal
More than 800 new social and 'affordable' homes will be built near Leopardstown Racecourse in south Co Dublin after a deal to transfer State-owned land to the Land Development Agency (LDA) from the national horse-racing body was reached. The long-awaited agreement, backed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, will deliver housing on a 17-acre plot of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) land next to the M50 motorway. The land is zoned for residential use but currently used for racecourse car parking. In the middle of a housing crisis, that prompted questions as to why the site was not being deployed for homes. The LDA, established to build housing on public land, believes the site ranks among the 'least constrained' vacant sites in State ownership with housing potential. The plan includes a new Luas station on the Green line to serve the area. READ MORE The HRI site at Carrickmines Little adjoins separate lands owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council which are also earmarked for housing. The sites are on the city side of the M50. According to a recent LDA report, the combined HRI and council lands could eventually accommodate between 1,550 and 2,080 homes. The estimated project cost was up to €571 million. Housing development costs were in a range between €390 million and €480 million, with infrastructure costs of up to €91 million. There was no comment from HRI or the LDA but the deal is said to have followed an intervention from Mr Martin in which he pressed the parties to reach agreement. 'There's no update at the moment,' HRI said. [ Agencies rush to seal deal for Leopardstown Racecourse site before new land tax falls due Opens in new window ] The deal comes more than a year after a Government decision to approve the transfer of the HRI lands to the LDA. Agreement remained elusive for many months but the two State bodies have now resolved to work together in consultation with the council to develop a housing master plan for the area. The plan includes proposals to further develop the racecourse in lands the HRI will retain. Design and planning work is scheduled to begin immediately, although three years could pass before housing is built. The council's local area plan for the lands includes a school and a full-size sports pitch. The LDA believes as many as 70,800 homes could eventually be built on vacant publicly owned sites throughout the State. However, less than 20 per cent of the 102 parcels of public land earmarked for housing are deemed to have 'low levels' of constraints. 'These least-constrained lands have the potential for housing development in the near term for between 10,860 and 14,780 homes,' the LDA said in a report published in March. More than 80 per cent of the sites were 'moderately or significantly' constrained.
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Generating warmth for unloved Curragh may prove hardest part of racecourse revamp
It is 25 years since the late Aga Khan told an audience he was tired of parking his keister in unsatisfactory surroundings at the Curragh racecourse. He put it rather more eloquently than that, declaring himself 'an articulate sufferer at racecourses that do not meet acceptable standards of efficiency, convenience, practicality and comfort'. Instead of just moaning, he did something about it. It can be argued that a vastly wealthy royal could afford to put his money where his mouth was. But even so, ponying up a reported €15 million to buy the hotel at the back of the old Curragh stands so it could be knocked down, therefore freeing up space for redevelopment, spoke of a man tired of roughing it. It is 10 years since plans for the revamped Curragh that we know today were first revealed. Simon Coveney , who was Minister for Agriculture at the time, called it 'one of the most significant investments that Irish sport will have seen in many years'. The then-chairman of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Joe Keeling, described it as the 'most important venture in the modern history of Irish racing'. READ MORE The original budget was for €65 million and it was to be finished by 2018. By the end of the tender process, it was €72.3 million. Unforeseen delays – or cock-ups – included having to redo the parade ring for an extra €500,000. So, in 2019, the revamped Curragh was officially opened, a year late. The final cost was €81.5 million, €36.5 million of which was public money through HRI. The impressive new stand was named, appropriately, after the Aga Khan. There were teething problems, such as the embarrassing whistling sound the new stand roof made when the wind blew in a certain direction. There was also the departure of Curragh chief executive Derek McGrath over lack of unity, as he saw it, on a shared vision for the racecourse. The biggest challenge of all was the Covid pandemic. The push for redevelopment was driven by an elitist vibe A lot of water and money has been passed since the Aga Khan decided to set the ball rolling. Ultimately, however, the aim of delivering a flagship, luxury facility for racing's great and good has been achieved. It is a modern facility, which, by most measures, is lovely to look at. It is also, by most measures, predominantly unloved. Pinning emotions to locations is an illogical exercise, but that doesn't prevent lots of people from doing so anyway. There are those in south Dublin who don't know the back end of a horse from the front end of a BMW 7 Series, but whose annual Christmas pilgrimage to Leopardstown is as important a festive ritual as fighting with the in-laws. A crowd of over 42,000 attended the Punchestown Festival's Friday card recently. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times. Just a few weeks ago, a record attendance of 42,138 crammed into the Punchestown Festival's Friday card. It was frantic, raucous and felt like much of Kildare was on the razz on their own doorstep. Different racecourses have their own identity. Galway is as much part of the Irish summer as rain. Smaller tracks like Ballinrobe and Kilbeggan exert a local pull that puts higher-profile courses to shame. Laytown has sand. Gowran has mud. But to too many people, the Curragh suggests exclusivity. That's partly to do with the nature of the racing and having all the classics, as well as most of Ireland's group one races. But it's not just that. [ Rachael Blackmore cracked glass ceiling but presuming it's in smithereens for female jockeys is complacent Opens in new window ] [ Soccer Euro 2028 qualification explained: The five ways Ireland can qualify, including automatically Opens in new window ] The push for redevelopment was driven by an elitist vibe. Rather than failure to pinpoint any shared vision, the concept was essentially to put the best side out and impress international neighbours by transforming a down-at-heel venue into a place the rich are happy to play in. In that sense it has succeeded. But it patently lacks a sense of popular engagement. The three-day Guineas festival begins there on Friday. The first classics of 2025 will be run over the weekend. So will the Tattersalls Gold Cup. It is flat racing at its finest. Last year, there was an official attendance of just over 14,000 over the three days. Only 5,000 showed up for the 1,000 Guineas. The Curragh's biggest day is the Derby, which last year drew an attendance of 11,418. The other big date, its leg of the Champions Festival, saw 8,645 pass through the turnstiles. The grandstand's capacity alone is 13,000. Such figures illustrate that the overriding response to the Curragh's revamp has been indifference. The argument can be made in racing terms that exclusivity is what the Curragh is supposed to be about. The private money behind the redevelopment can certainly afford not to worry about empty seats. But since almost half the cost has been picked up by the taxpayer, such a position smacks of complacency. And, rightly or wrongly, an unfortunate 'them and us' attitude has arisen that will be hard to shift. Maybe in time, indifference will turn to enthusiasm. Back in the day, even the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, a modern architectural masterpiece, got flak for being a colossal waste of public money. The secret to being liked is often to just hang around long enough. Generating warmth for the Curragh, however, might turn out to be the final and most difficult part of its revamp. Something for the Weekend The bulk of Derby trials are run but OPPORTUNITY (2.05) could still put himself into the Epsom picture with a good performance in Saturday's Listed contest at Goodwood. Significant progress from his Haydock maiden win can be expected. JARRAAF (6.50) was progressive last year and should step up again this season, starting on his reappearance at Salisbury on Saturday.
BreakingNews.ie
30-04-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Government accused of ‘attack on low-paid workers'
The Government has 'mounted an attack on low-paid workers', the deputy leader of the Social Democrats has said. Cian O'Callaghan's comments come after it was reported that the Government is delaying the introduction of a living wage until 2029. Advertisement Speaking during Leaders' Questions on Wednesday, he drew a comparison between the Government's treatment of senior leadership in semi-State organisations and its policies for low-paid workers. Mr O'Callaghan said: 'Not content with creating a new 430,000 euro post for the housing czar, this Government now wants to increase pay for senior executives in semi-State organisations. 'Yesterday, (Public Expenditure Minister) Jack Chambers announced plans to change rules, which will see salaries soar. 'The heads of 30 semi-State bodies, from Horse Racing Ireland to RTÉ, are now potentially in line for massive increases. Advertisement 'This is despite the fact that these CEOs received a combined 75 million in pay and perks over 10 years, according to Village magazine.' He added: 'Strangely, even though I carefully studied the Minister's statement yesterday, I did not see any reference to economic headwinds, tariffs or global volatility. 'When it comes to gold-plated salaries for those at the top, it seems these concerns are not worth mentioning. Compare that with how people on low pay are treated and the Government's shameful decision to postpone the introduction of a living wage. Taoiseach Micheál Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) 'Improvement in sick leave for ordinary workers has also been put on the chopping block. In a triple whammy, plans to introduce pension auto-enrolment have also been kicked down the road yet again. Advertisement 'While all across the county people are struggling to make ends meet, keep their homes heated, rent paid and bills from piling up, this Government has mounted a despicable attack on low-paid workers.' Mr O'Callaghan said housing costs more than double the EU average, bills have increased 80% since Russian invaded Ukraine, and the prices for goods and services are 42% higher than in other European countries. 'The cost of living is skyrocketing and the Government expects people to get by on 13.50 an hour. Why does this Government believe those at the top deserve bumper salary increases while low-paid workers are thrown under the bus?' In response, Taoiseach Michaeál Martin said said the minimum wage had been significantly increased over the last number of years. Advertisement 'Over the past three to four years, significant improvements were made to the minimum wage, workers' rights and sick leave pay. '2022 was the first time a statutory right was given to employer-paid sick leave in the sick leave Act. 'The Deputy made the exaggerated comment that we are engaging in despicable action again workers. Sick leave has gone from three to five days, which was introduced in January 2024. 'The minimumn wage has been increasing significantly over the past number of years as a result of Government decisions – it will continue to increase. Advertisement 'We decided to delay going from five to seven days. On the minimum wage, the delay is in respect of matching the living wage. It will be a matter for Low Pay Commission to determine the increase.' On auto-enrolment, he said Government was 'going full steam ahead' with its plans. 'This Government, the two main parties in government, spent the last three to four years building up what was a very substantive programme in terms of getting auto-enrolment ready. 'In terms of the logistics of it, payroll providers and so on, the view was that it should start with the tax year in January as opposed to September – that is all. 'So let us not pretend it is some massive undermining of workers' rights or anything like that.'
