Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is agreed that we note and publish that.

Nos. 737 to 740, inclusive, concern Dundalk ice rink, a matter which was brought to the attention of the committee by Deputy Andrews. I propose that we take these items together. Is that agreed? Agreed. This is an important issue as we do not have a permanent ice rink facility in this State and Dundalk ice rink has been unused and falling into disrepair for a number of years. I will summarise the correspondence before opening the floor to members.

No. 737 is from Ms Katherine Licken, Secretary General of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, dated 14 July 2021 providing information requested by the committee on Dundalk ice rink, which is owned by Dundalk Institute of Technology. That institute is attempting to lease it. The Secretary General states that the Department “has no role in relation to buildings owned by DkIT and or decisions taken by DkIT regarding the use of such buildings”. Therefore, the Department cannot provide any information as to why the building has been left vacant or why it has not been maintained.

The Department goes on to set out its role in sport promotion and efforts to secure a permanent ice rink facility in Ireland, including engagement between Sports Ireland and the Irish Ice Hockey Association. The Department states that Sport Ireland was in the early stages of conducting a feasibility study on the development of a permanent ice rink facility as part of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus.

No. 738 is from Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, dated 13 July 2021. The Secretary General notes that DkIT has responded to the committee, and states that, in terms of governance arrangements, the role of the Minister and the Department is set out in the Technological Higher Education Association code of governance. However, the Department goes on to state that while it has a sanctioning role under the code of governance regarding material acquisition or disposal of land, including long-term leases, this sanctioning role "is distinct from the conduct of lease negotiations and operational decisions generally in relation to how DkIT manages and utilises its properties". It goes on to say that it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in commercial negotiations.

No. 739 is from Professor Michael Mulvey, president of DkIT, setting out a detailed response to its purchase of the then JJB Sports site for €3 million, which includes the Ice Dome. DkIT received sanction from the HEA for the purchase in 2012. The correspondence sets out that the purchase was central to its Campus Development Plan 2011-2021.

DkIT states that the Ice Dome was not operational when purchased and that somewhere in the region of €500,000 to €1 million would be required to bring it back into service. As it wants to maintain control of the property in case it wants to expand its campus, which it states is particularly relevant in the context of its ambition to become a technological university, DkIT intends to continue its efforts to lease the premises. Essentially, DkIT does not have the financial resources to bring the Ice Dome back into use nor is doing so aligned with its long-term strategic objectives.

DkIT states that it intends to lease the Ice Dome to a tenant with the financial resources to bring it back into service. In respect of its negotiations over several years with the Irish Ice Hockey Association, DkIT states that “the association was afforded every opportunity to present a proposal that met the requirements of the Institute” and that it requested a final proposal from the association in February 2021. DkIT did not deem it to be viable, stating that it presents “too high of a commercial and operational risk for the Institute.”

No. 740 is from the vice president of the Irish Ice Hockey Association, dated 12 July. As mentioned, the association has been in negotiations with DkIT to lease the Ice Dome, but ultimately, DkIT did not deem the association’s final proposal viable with the end result that we have a decaying ice rink with an owner not interested in using the facility for its intended purpose; an ice hockey association with no ice rink which is unusual to say the least; and no permanent ice-rink facility in the State.

The association has submitted extensive and detailed correspondence on the matter over a number of years, including Sport Ireland’s 2018 support in principle for the association’s bid to reopen the Ice Dome, subject to the costs being met by the association. The association has also provided the minutes of DkIT’s governing body’s meetings, which are publicly available. They detail DkIT’s consideration of the matter, from its intention in 2017 to sell the Ice Dome to the current decision to lease it.

The association’s 2018 business plan notes that the United Kingdom has 63 ice facilities and that New Zealand, a country of similar demographic and history of ice sports to Ireland, has four indoor arenas. I thank members for their patience on listening to me outline the gist of the current situation. I will now open the floor to members. I know Deputy Munster has had an interest in this matter in the past.