A GROUP of Dublin 4 residents are to each receive up to €120,000 in compensation for the loss of light to their homes from the new Lansdowne Road stadium.
An offer of €75,000 per family was last week rejected by Dublin city councillors, who wanted a bigger package under a deal to allow developers to use a half-acre strip of land. Last night, a meeting of Dublin City Council heard that a new €2.44m deal would involve 14 householders receiving €120,000 each, while eight families will get €32,500.
A further €500,000 is being made available for other householders not as badly affected. This compensation will be decided by an independent administrator.
In addition, a sum of €100,000 will be paid every year for upkeep of the affected area along the River Dodder walkway. Chris Andrews, Fianna Fail councillor, said last night that the residents affected had voiced very serious concerns and that these had been addressed.
"I now hope the stadium is successful," he said.
The compensation is being made available by the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company. The affected householders live in O'Connell Gardens, near the Dodder walkway.
It is planned to transform Lansdowne Road into a 50,000-seater, state-of-the-art soccer and rugby stadium, which should be open for competitive matches in 2010.
City management recommended that councillors hand over the land along the Dodder walkway in exchange for river improvement works, which are expected to cost €1.5m. Under the deal the stadium company will also pay for improved Dodder flood defences.
Treacy Hogan and Anita Mullan
Irish Independent
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