Dáil debates

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

Priority Questions.

Sport and Recreational Development.

3:00 pm

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the Government proposals for the further development of sporting and ancillary facilities at the Abbotstown site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15174/05]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he intends to present proposals for Campus Ireland at Abbotstown to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15331/05]

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together.

In January 2004, the Government decided to proceed with the development of a sports campus on the State-owned lands at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited was requested to put forward proposals for the development of a sports campus. In the preparation of its proposals for the development of a sports campus, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited consulted widely with the major governing bodies of sport, stakeholders and interest groups to devise a development control plan.

I have received the development control plan for a sports campus at Abbotstown from CSID. The plan, which represents phase one of a wider programme for sports facilities, proposes the development of pitches and ancillary accommodation catering mainly for the three major field sports — rugby, soccer and Gaelic games, as well as an indoor sports centre to cater for a range of indoor sports with spectator accommodation. This phase also includes publicly accessible all-weather floodlit synthetic pitches. These facilities would complement the existing water based facilities provided through the National Aquatic Centre.

It is my intention to present proposals to the Government shortly on the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown.

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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This centre is of major significance to the development of sport. At the time my colleague, Deputy O'Shea, was anxious to ensure that a centre of excellence would be created at Abbotstown. I am perplexed that we do not appear to have made the progress I thought we would make in this regard. While the Minister is in a position to present the proposals to Government, the issue has been on the legislative list since 2003. A later question refers to our Olympic performances and so on, but if we do not have this centre of excellence, we will not develop into a nation that can make an impact at Olympic level. The Minister referred to rugby, soccer and Gaelic games, which are not Olympic sports. Is it proposed that the centre of excellence will cover a wide range of sport which will be reflected in better performances in future at Olympic level?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I have outlined the proposals in respect of phase one. The memorandum for Government will envisage the delivery of that phase of the sports campus over a period of four to five years. The cost involved will be approximately €120 million. Any such proposal must obtain the approval of Government, which I hope we are successful in obtaining.

I envisage Governments continuing with the necklace of centres at Abbotstown so that in years to come there will be the type of facility Deputy Wall envisages catering for all kinds of disciplines. This would be of tremendous benefit to the country generally. It would be very attractive in terms of inward investment.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister's memorandum to Government include ongoing running costs for the campus? Will it be part of the regional strategy to provide centres of excellence throughout the country? What will be the future role of the national coaching and training centre? What role will it have in Limerick and in Sports Campus Ireland? Surely there would be duplication.

The Athens review proposed an institute of sport. Will the new campus be recognised as such and will it be the kind of institute proposed in the review?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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We have made enormous strides in the provision of facilities in recent years, not just in Dublin but throughout the country. For example, since 1998 we have spent in the order of €610 million on sport and the provision of sports facilities. Through the national lottery-funded sports capital programme, we have been involved in approximately 4,500 projects in every city, town, village and parish in the country since 1998. We hope to continue with this.

I do not envisage any change of location for the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. It is true that the Athens review proposed an institute of sport. Perhaps it could be considered in that context. However, one should note that phase 1, which is being considered by Government, does not incorporate plans for the National Coaching and Training Centre. Its present location is safe for the foreseeable future. It makes a very important contribution to sport.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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What about the running costs?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of running costs under phase 1 of the new campus at Abbotstown can only be addressed when the facility is open. It is not possible for me to envisage what they might be.

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I readily acknowledge the funding and facilities that have been provided in every parish, as the Minister stated. However, there is now a need to provide the expertise to match the facilities, as Deputy Deenihan said. There is a lack of volunteers.

Will there be negotiations with the various interested bodies to determine what mechanism can be put in place to provide the training necessary to make the first phase of the centre of excellence a success? There should be officials with the necessary ability and expertise to train youngsters in rugby, soccer, Gaelic and other sports the Minister mentioned. We must move on to the next phase and provide this expertise by way of the sports capital programme. We have lost many volunteers in sport and therefore the centre of excellence can provide the base for future development nationwide. If this is done right, it is only fair to assume we will see a follow-on.

Will a mechanism be put in place to provide the necessary expertise rather than waiting for associations to provide it? I would love the Minister to tell us there will be a link between Sports Campus Ireland and the various bodies to ensure that personnel will be on hand to impart their knowledge to the youngsters using the facility, thus making it a success in every phase. In the longer term, Sports Campus Ireland can facilitate all our sports and become the centre of excellence everyone wants it to be.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I assure Deputy Wall that, with the assistance of the project managers and sports consultants, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited consulted very widely with the major governing bodies of sport, including the international managers for rugby and soccer, stakeholders and interested groups to devise a development control plan for the campus. It is the plan to ensure that expertise is available.

On the Deputy's comments on volunteers, I am greatly concerned about this issue. It is true that during the early years of the Celtic tiger, volunteerism continued in Ireland. As the tiger became more mature, so to speak, it seemed to lapse somewhat. It regenerated during the Special Olympics in Croke Park in 2003. Some 30,000 people offered their assistance and the games were a resounding success. However, it is unfortunate that, once the games were over, there was not as much interest in volunteerism. There is plenty of evidence to that effect across the country.

We do not have the number of volunteers in sport that we had in previous years. This is a particular problem in larger urban centres, especially in the areas where disadvantage is greatest. There is a need for the Government and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to examine the question of volunteerism to ascertain the stimulus we can provide to ensure there will be men and women willing to put up the nets on a Saturday or Sunday morning, line the field, carry the flags and transport children to the various sporting facilities.

People should not forget that volunteerism does not happen by itself. One cannot just rely on the fellow who has been chairman of the local GAA club for the past 25 years, for example, to keep carrying on. He is only mortal. It is important that people start giving of themselves again. Without being too philosophical, I note it is true that individualism can often triumph over a community. This is always a tragedy.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister clarify that there will be accommodation for a 10,000-seater soccer stadium on the campus? I do not know if he mentioned this. Will use be made of existing buildings on-site, for example, for office accommodation? Does the Minister not believe there is over-emphasis on team sports in the proposal he has outlined? There seems to be no balance between team sports and individual sports.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The straight answer is that it was necessary to cut our cloth according to our measure. We had to start somewhere and it was decided to start with what I outlined. The training area that will be provided for both professional rugby and soccer, and amateur games such as Gaelic games and hockey, is presented in the plan as a shamrock concept providing dedicated nodes for rugby, soccer and Gaelic games, located around a central core building designed to be shared by all the training sports teams and athletes.

The central core building will have living accommodation, a restaurant, fitness training and gym facilities and sports, medical and recovery areas. There will be dedicated changing and training facilities and pitches clustered around this block. A range of pitches will be provided in each of the three dedicated areas to ensure that teams can train in a secure and private location in any weather conditions. Thus, they will be adequately prepared for various levels of competition There will be natural turf and synthetic pitches, a number of which will be flood-lit.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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What about the 10,000-seater stadium?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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There is no proposal at present to have a 10,000-seater stadium under phase 1. However, there is a proposal to have an indoor sports centre where it would be hoped to accommodate up to 30 sports.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The stadium was referred to in the Minister's announcement of last year.