18,000 COPIES WEEKLY Rosebud Hannah meets her hero Page 21
Dun Lughaidh Fashion Show Pages 10 & 16
Kind hearted residents save dog Page 2
Council paying €75m for Celtic Tiger land Wednesday, 26th March, 2014. Vol. 7, Issue 13 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Niamh Kirk
LOUTH County Council may end up paying €75 million for boom time land purchases that have since been rendered unsuitable for such development. The news of the repayments burden was revealed at Louth County Council meeting this week, where Louth County Manager Philomenia Poole told the council that repayments of about €3million per year for the next 25 years may have to commence soon. The repayments relate to Government loans for land acquisitions at the height of the market when policy required local authorities to ensure that they were adequately prepared for coming
housing needs. There was a seven year stay on interest repayments that is coming to an end on some of the properties. A further extension of the moratorium on interest charges is not available and in the absence of the previous capital housing loans, the local authorities are now facing meeting loan repayments over the coming years from the local authority budget. In Louth, land in Kilcurry, and around Dundalk and Drogheda was purchased over a number of years to build social housing. In some cases not even foundations were laid as some of the land was not zoned for residential building Continued on page 12
Stephen goes on unique solo run
Stephen Ralph is preparing for a unique solo run
By Paul Byrne
takes part in Ray D’Arcy’s Half Million Half Marathon next Stephen Ralph is going solo in month. his bid to raise money for the The Ravensdale man will Laura Lynn foundation as he complete the 21km course
whilst soloing an O’Neills GAA football for the duration of his journey. Stephen who moved to Kildare. See page 10