Education Minister Joe McHugh has defended the decision to pay almost twice the market value for a former greyhound stadium. The Department of Education bought the site at Harold’s Cross, Dublin, for €23m from the Irish Greyhound Board last year, with the intention of providing permanent accommodation to Shellybanks Educate Together school and South City Educate Together secondary school on the land. Taking questions in the Dáil for the first time as minister, Mr McHugh admitted the amount paid, which breaks down to €3.8m an acre, was “big money” but reflected prices in the area. Fianna Fáil education spokesman Thomas Byrne questioned the rationale of paying such a price. Has the minister asked for a review or an explanation from the Valuation Office?

Source: Irish Examiner October 19, 2018 03:11 UTC