Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The expert review group looked at the question of deficiencies, including in transport and, in particular, in terms of our stadium infrastructure. Having worked as a sports journalist for more than a decade and having visited many stadiums throughout the country, I am well aware of the deficiencies we have but also the very positive gains there have been in the past ten years or so. There is no question, however, that investment is needed in stadiums throughout the country. When the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, responded to questions from me on the investment issue in the House last week, he spoke about sports capital grants. That funding is for helping clubs to get on their feet. We need to address the deficiencies in our major infrastructure with a view to implementing the municipal stadium model. That is the model in favour across Europe and it allows for the hosting of multitudes of sports. In a small country like ours, we will need to pool our scarce resources into the municipal stadium model if we are to ensure any future pitch for a major tournament in any sport is credible. That will require having infrastructure worthy of the European stage.

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