The Walsh Park development is on track to be completed in full by December 2026, according to the latest update from Waterford County Board Chairman, Sean Michael O'Regan.
Discussions with government, Croke Park and Munster Council have been described as 'positive' in terms of securing €14m worth of overall investment - to ultimately deliver a 13,500 seater debt-free stadium.
The large-scale sports infrastructure fund was introduced in 2018 to support larger national governing bodies and regional projects. The Waterford County Board received €3.753 million in 2019 for the redevelopment of Walsh Park. A further €3.3m was then allocated in December 2023 - bringing the total allocation to in excess of €7m.
A county board meeting was held earlier in this week - at which delegates were informed that all indications were that funding has been secured to deliver Phase Two and Phase Three of the project.
It is anticipated that Phase 2 will commence in July, while Phase 3 will take place at the end of Waterford's 2026 campaign.
Speaking on Deise Today on WLR, O'Regan said everything is shaping up well.
"We've had really good, positive discussions with Croke Park, Munster Council, ourselves - obviously, given our own piece of it, and the government and the immigrant investment. All of those are all coming together - we've more meetings to be had, I have to stress, we've more meetings to be had with it, but it's all very, very positive. Everybody wants to get this project done from a government point of view, a Croke Park point of view."
Initial costs were in the region of €9-10m, but inflation has led to a 40% increase in those costs - however O'Regan has emphasised that contingency plans will be implemented in the event of any changes going forward.
"The funding that we're talking about from each of those, it looks like that they're all going to add up and stack up properly to hit the €14 million mark. We're just waiting on final I's to be dotted, T's to be crossed for a couple of meetings - but the positive shoots are there from it. If anything changes, obviously, that's where we are at the moment. Everything is looking hugely positive, the money seems to be allocated for phase two for Walsh Park. If anything changes in any way, shape or form -well then, obviously, we will change with that."
The Waterford County Board Chairman believes that Waterford will have a stadium to be proud of in two years' time.
"The general public - I think we can all be hugely proud. We'll be able to look back, hopefully, and we'll say, hypothetically, two years from now - two and a half years from now, and say 'wow, job well done.' It took a long time. I remember having meetings about Walsh Park back in 2017, and here we are - but that's what it takes."
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