Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an ideal time to visit. If one had visited it last year or in previous years, one would have seen what was being planned or in the early phases, but now one will be able to see where the pitches that will open in 2015 are located, as well as the work on the national indoor arena. This is a national facility. The reason I have been so eager to support it is that its objectives are, first, to cater for elite high performance athletes. One will be able to see where the high performance boxers will live and the other facilities they will have when training. There is the award winning facility, the national diving centre, which is for people who seek to participate in international events.

The chairman and chief executive of the organisation are absolutely clear that the national sports campus has also to deliver mass participation. They have great ideas on how they want to open this facility to the entire country and get everybody who has an interest in sport involved. Regardless of what part of the country one represents, one will see how this facility will be able to provide something for either high performance athletes in their counties and nationally and also for clubs all across the country to participate in national events.

I urge the committee members to go out there in the next few months,