Venue development: The chief executive of the Royal Dublin Society has denied attempting to put pressure on planners by threatening to move the RDS away from Dublin 4 if the society failed to get permission for its €100 million development of the site.
Mr Michael Duffy told a press conference at the opening day of the RDS Dublin Horse Show that a move out from the prestigious site would be considered if the society was not allowed develop five office blocks, stabling and other facilities there.
It received planning permission to build five office blocks and develop equestrian facilities at the site but this was appealed and resulted in an oral hearing, the results of which will be known next month.
The society, he said, wanted to remain in Ballsbridge, but that might not be possible if it was not granted planning permission to proceed with its development on the site to fund the expansion of its foundation activities, the development of agriculture, science and the arts.
"This is not a threat. The fact is that we need to develop the site here to ensure a finance stream to fund our foundation facilities, which include the horse show," said Mr Duffy, who took over his new role earlier this year. He said that the 40-acre site at the grounds was extremely valuable, and while he was not prepared to put a price on it, the best commercial advice was that the site would be worth at least half a billion euro.
"If we do not get permission to develop the five office blocks and the other facilities including stabling and the Anglesea stand, we will have to look at all possibilities," he said.
"Moving from here would be a last resort but we will examine all possibilities," said Mr Duffy, who was the former chief executive of the Irish Food Bord, An Bord Bia.
Mr Duffy said the Ballsbridge site had shrunk from 70 acres in the 1970s to its current 40 acres, but it was interesting that the proposed development was on sites already covered by developments.
Asked if it was not a fact that the original educational roles of the society were now being covered by Government agencies such as Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Mr Duffy said this was partially true but the society was looking at ways to expand its foundation activities.
"We are conducting a review of our foundation activities to ensure they are relevant to today's society, and that work is ongoing and will continue," he said.
He said the development plan would cover a 10-year period and would begin as soon as permission was given to the society to begin its work. "If we are to secure a future here, we have to invest in a significant development plan.
"We have one which would allow us expand our foundation activities, and we are hoping that will be approved," he said.
Mr Duffy said that the society was committed to Ballsbridge, but all avenues would have to be explored to ensure the development of a vibrant society.