Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for his remarks on the sports capital grants and on diversity and inclusion. I take his point on the velodrome project. It has been spoken about for many years. The velodrome and badminton centre project is a priority for us. It is a key project referenced in the national development plan. We have a draft master plan we are progressing. There is funding this year to advance its planning and design and it is something we want to progress properly. That is why it is signalled and specified in the national development plan. I accept that within the broader cycling community it has been spoken about for many years but we are anxious to progress it. I have spoken to Sport Ireland in recent weeks about the need to advance this project. We are all on the one page in trying to do that. It is a major project. We will not only have a velodrome in the centre but it will have major potential for multi-use in sport and in what it can do for other indoor sports. It will have major potential on the sports campus.