Dáil debates

Thursday, 25 October 2007

4:00 pm

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the zoning status of Abbotstown to allow for the provision of sports facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25611/07]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the Government's plans to develop a national sports campus in Abbotstown, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and when he expects to lodge a planning application with Fingal County Council with regard to the same. [22329/07]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 57 together.

The Government has provided €149 million in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 for the development of a national sports campus at Abbotstown. The Government, in November 2005, already approved the development of facilities under phase one of a development control plan prepared by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, the predecessor of the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA. These facilities will be designed to meet the indoor and outdoor training needs of Irish elite sportspersons who compete at national and international levels and will also provide for the needs of the local community.

The facilities to be provided in phase one of the project will include a national field sports training centre catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey; a national indoor training centre which will provide world-class training facilities for more than 20 national governing bodies of sport; accommodation for sports men and women; sports science-medical facilities; and all-weather synthetic pitches for community use.

The Government decision for this stage of development included agreement to relocate the headquarters of the Football Association of Ireland to the former State Laboratory building at Abbotstown. Planning permission for a change of use for the State Laboratory was secured and the refurbishment work on the building is almost complete. It is expected the FAI will relocate to Abbotstown perhaps later this month.

It is also intended to provide a headquarters for the Institute for Sport by refurbishing an existing building on the site and a planning application for a change of use for this building has been lodged with Fingal County Council.

The Deputy will be aware the Government also decided to provide a site on the lands for the development of a hospice. In this context, St. Francis Hospice is involved in the planning stages of this facility.

A planning study for the Abbotstown site, which is a requirement under a local objective of the Fingal county development plan, has been completed by an inter-agency group, which included my Department, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Finance and Fingal County Council. This study sets out the mix of sporting, leisure, and amenity facilities that would be appropriate for the site. The planning study, including a proposal to change the zoning of a large portion of the site to open space to allow for sports use and for the woodland area of the site to be zoned high amenity, has been considered by Fingal County Council. Following a period of consultation, the planning study was approved at a meeting of Fingal County Council on 9 July last.

In formal terms, the resulting variation to the Fingal county development plan specifies or maps five local objectives as follows: to provide sporting facilities and associated infrastructure related to the national sports campus incorporating appropriate office, administration and accommodation space; to provide sport and recreational facilities for community use, including minority sport and leisure activities, with local clubs, voluntary organisations and Fingal County Council having an input into the future allocation of space or facilities and with facilities being affordable and accessible to the local population; to provide for a hospice; to provide public access to this open parkland and provide the necessary footpath network, landscaping and related development; and that development of the Abbotstown sports campus and site be accompanied by frequent public transport links as a priority to allow access for the mostly young users of the sports and recreational facilities.

Preliminary planning for phase one has commenced and the NSCDA is shortly to appoint a design team and a project management team for the project. It is then the intention of the authority to have detailed plans prepared so that planning permission can be sought for the implementation of phase one of the project. It is expected that planning permission will be sought during 2008.

In January last, under the National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006, the NSCDA was established on a statutory basis to succeed in function and responsibility Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Company Limited, CSID. In addition to overseeing the development of phase one of the campus, the new authority has been requested to identify the facilities that might be considered for the next phase of the development of the Abbotstown project. The Abbotstown facilities, when completed, will provide a much needed range of training and competitive facilities for our sportspersons.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The issue of this sports campus is another old chestnut. We have been talking about it for as long as I have been elected to this House, namely, some ten years.

I am pleased to note that Fingal County Council has changed its development plan to facilitate the development of the sports campus at Abbotstown, but I am disappointed we are still far removed from earth being turned on the site. I understand the design team has not yet been appointed. Once the team is appointed, its members must design the sports campus. Phase one of the project is a fairly large development and it will take time to complete. Once the design is completed, planning permission will have to be sought and then tendering for the construction work will take place. It seems it will be another five years before any physical work commences on the site.

Will the Minister do what he can to inject some urgency into progressing this project? This is a good time to build a development such as this one because building workers from the housing sector are becoming available and, therefore, labour is available. Also, good prices can be secured for the work. While it is a good time to build such a development, we need to get on with it and avail of the opportunities that exist in the market given the slight slowdown in other sectors of the building industry. The main issue is to get the sports campus up and running and not to waste any more time. It will be 15 years from when the project was first mooted before a shovel will have been put in the ground. The sooner we get on with the work, the better.

I was not aware that a hospice was to be located on the grounds and I am pleased to hear that. In tandem with most people, I am a huge admirer of the work of hospices. I am glad that St. Francis Hospice is being facilitated on these grounds.

Will the Minister bring a sense of urgency to this project to ensure there is no slippage between its various stages?

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I welcome what the Minister outlined. I encourage the fast-tracking of this project as much as possible. I also welcome the inclusion of St. Francis Hospice on the grounds. That is worthy and we are all pleased to hear that.

The Minister said that Fingal County Council will be responsible for the further allocation of space. What he outlined is attractive and it appears to cover predominantly sporting activities and leisure facilities. Are there any plans in terms of administrative buildings? Will he indicate if a percentage of the grounds will be available for the development of facilities or services other than strictly sporting ones?

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The list I laid before the House includes projects for phase 1. In so far as we may move on to another phase I have asked the board to examine what might be included in future phases. The first project is the national field sports training centre, catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey. The indoor training centre accommodation, a sports science medical facility and an all-weather synthetic pitch comprises the rest of phase 1.

Regarding Deputy Mitchell's point, we hope to receive planning permission for the entire phase in 2008. I will do everything possible to expedite it and will keep the House informed. I am waiting to hear from the board on what it believes should be included in the next phase.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I support Deputy Mitchell in this regard. The project will be a great addition to sports infrastructure in Ireland. I note the sports that will be accommodated. I urge the Minister to ensure the pitch is the correct size for Gaelic games, not like Lansdowne Road, which was supposed to accommodate Gaelic games. Pitches for Gaelic games are bigger than those for other sports.

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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It was not the size of the pitch that was the problem. I will ensure the pitches are of the required size as we develop them.