Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans for the proposed national sports campus; the progress made to date in terms of planning and design; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47547/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Planning permission has been obtained for Phase One of the National Sports Campus. The planning permission includes provision for

· a multi-sport National Indoor Training Centre to provide world-class training facilities for more than 20 sports;

· Sports Science and Medical facilities;

· accommodation for sportsmen and women;

· all-weather synthetic pitches for community recreational access; and

· a National Field Sports Training Centre catering for Rugby, Soccer, Gaelic Games and Hockey.

I am also pleased to report that refurbishment work on the former Central Meat Control Laboratory has recently been completed and this is providing a headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport.

However, because of the difficult economic constraints it is not possible to move forward with the main Phase One of the National Sports Campus project at this time. In the meantime, however, an amount of €3m capital has been provided in my Department's 2010 provision for the refurbishment of the former Marine Institute building at Abbotstown which will be used as a headquarters for national governing bodies of sport. Most of the remainder of the capital allocation, over €600,000, will be used to provide for capital maintenance at the National Aquatic Centre. It is my intention, as resources permit, to move ahead with the National Sports Campus which is one of the last major pieces of sports infrastructure required in this country.