Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need a viable solution for the athletics crisis in County Cork at the moment. That solution can be provided by Bandon Athletic Club, which has done all the preparation work and all the ground work, including kerbing. The provision of an injection of cash to put the actual track in place would mean we would have a track this summer. Unfortunately, if we do not have that, more than 8,000 people will have to travel outside the county. There is no real acknowledgement within the Department of the crisis we have at the moment. High performance athletes cannot train in County Cork at the moment because of the lack of a track. This is a unique situation. We have a unique solution. It is in the hands of the Minister to deliver it. If not, we will have a bizarre situation whereby our county championships will be held in County Kerry, our high performance athletes will have to train in Dublin, and the solution that is on the table, namely Bandon Athletic Club, will have to sit there for another round of funding. I appeal to the Minister of State. We need to do something special because this is going to involve 8,500 people who want to get out on the track. It is a no-brainer.