Government funding of sport through the National Development Plan

Sparks

From the Department of Sport website:

O'Donoghue announces details of investment in sports infrastructure under the National Development Plan 2007-2013
"Access to sporting and recreational facilities for Irish people the length and breadth of the country will continue to be a priority for the Government for many years to come",- John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism

* €991m to be invested in sporting infrastructure from 2007 to 2013
* €149m allocated towards the development of a state-of-the-art Sports Campus at Abbotstown
* €168m provided towards the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium
* A provision of €184m towards the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme
* Continued investment in sporting and recreational facilities throughout the country under the Sports Capital Programme
* Investment in the Horse and Greyhound racing industries of €70m

The largest-ever Government investment programme for the development of Irish sport was unveiled this week in the National Development Plan 2007-2013: "Transforming Ireland". John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism revealed further details of the new NDP Sport Sub-Programme, today (Wednesday 24th January, 2007), which will see €991m invested in sporting infrastructure over the period 2007 to 2013.

Minister O'Donoghue said: "The benefits of participating in sport, whether at the level of competitive sport, recreational sport or active leisure activity, should not be understated. This Government is determined that Irish people should have access to sporting and recreational facilities, whether they are competing in sport professionally or simply participating for health, recreation, relaxation and enjoyment. The investment of €991m under the National Development Plan is clear evidence of the importance to which this Government attaches to the putting in place of modern well equipped and well managed sporting facilities, which will have real and lasting benefit to our communities. "

Campus of Sports Facilities at Abbotstown

Minister O'Donoghue stated: " The Campus of Sports Facilities will not only meet the indoor and outdoor training needs of Irish elite sportspersons, who compete at national and international levels but will also provide high-quality facilities for the local community. The first step in the realisation of the sports campus is commencing with the refurbishment of the former State Laboratory as the new headquarters on the FAI, which I expect will be ready for occupation by the middle of this year. I firmly believe that the Sports Campus will be the jewel in the crown of Irish sporting infrastructure and will be a venue of which the whole country can be proud.

"The Irish Institute of Sport will also be located at Abbotstown. At present the National Sports Campus Development Authority, which is responsible for the development of the entire sports campus is considering the refurbishment of offices at Abbotstown to house the Institute. I expect that the necessary accommodation will be ready by the end of the year."

Lansdowne Road Stadium

Minister O'Donoghue said: "The new stadium will be a first-rate facility appropriate to the contemporary international arenaand will be serve as a wonderful platform for ourinternational rugbyand soccer teams to showcase their talents to the world.The planning process must run its course but I am optimistic that by 2010, we will have a second splendid major stadium for field sports in Dublin."

Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme

The Minister said: "On the basis of current grant levels, the provision of €184m will support the construction of some 48 new public pools, which will be a very significant addition to our sporting and recreational infrastructure.

"I am currently finalising proposals for the launch of a new programme of investment in swimming pools. In the selection of locations to be supported under the Programme, particular priority will be afforded to the locations identified for special investment in the National Spatial Strategy."

Sports Capital Programme

Minister O'Donoghue said: "The foundation for the much-improved sporting infrastructure of the country under this Government has been the National Lottery-funded Sports Capital Programme. The Programme has helped provide hundreds of new pitches, changing rooms, sports halls and much needed equipment to sports clubs throughout Ireland. Nowhere has Government impacted more on the lives of people in every corner of Ireland than through funding to sports clubs and groups under the Sports Capital Programme.

"I am delighted that the National Development Plan will ensure the continuation of the Programme and the provision of sport and recreational facilities on a nationwide basis. Almost €420m will be allocated over the period of the Plan once again highlighting this Government's commitment to ensuring that people the length and breadth of the country will have access to top-of-the-range sporting facilities. "

Horse and Greyhound Racing Industries

The Minister said: "The Government's commitment to funding of the Irish horse and greyhound racing industries through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund has enabled a programme of capital investment in horse and greyhound racing tracks in recent years which has underpinned a growth in both sectors. A provision of €70m under the National Development Plan will enable Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon to undertake long-term planning which will result in the further development of a network of modern, well-managed facilities for both industries which will continue to be attractive to the general public. "


Background Note
Campus of Sports Facilities at Abbotstown

Under the National Development Plan, a provision of €149m has been allocated towards the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown with €119m set aside for Phase I which will provide cutting edge sporting facilities for Irish elite athletes and amateur sports men and women.

Phase 1 of the Sports Campus has a 4 to 5 year delivery schedule (2006-2010) This phase will provide for the development of modern facilities including pitches and support facilities for the three major field sports, rugby, soccer and Gaelic Games, with shared core facilities including accommodation, fitness area, medical and gym facilities. Facilities will also be provided to cater for over thirty indoor sports including badminton, basketball, bowling, boxing, judo, and table tennis. Community playing pitches and support facilities are also included in this plan. Already some preliminary consideration has taken place in relation to the scope and range of facilities to be included in Phase 2 of the development and the NDP provides €30m towards the next phase.

Lansdowne Road Stadium

As part of the Sport Sub-Programme, the balance of the €191m Government commitment to the project, €168m will be provided towards the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium as a 50,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium.

In January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding to the joint IRFU/FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium. The project is currently going through the planning process. On 31 July 2006, planning permission, with a limited number of conditions, was granted for the project by Dublin City Council. The project went to an appeal before An Bord Pleanála and an Oral Hearing was completed in December. Once the planning procedures have been completed, construction work is due to commence during 2007 as scheduled with a construction period of 29 months. Subject to satisfactory progress once construction commences, it is hoped that the new Lansdowne Road will open its doors before the end of the decade.

Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme

As part of the Sport Sub-Programme, an amount of €184m is being provided for the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme to fund the completion of the current round of the programme, which has been in operation since 2000, and the launch of a new round which is expected to take place over the coming months.

Since 2000, some 57 applications have or are being dealt with under this programme. 38 projects have been approved grant-aid, of which 23 have been completed and a further 15 are under construction or due to start construction shortly. In addition, 19 other projects are at various stages in the process.

The Programme has been closed to new applicants since July 2000. An Expenditure Review of the Programme is currently being finalised which will provide an opportunity to analyse the performance of the programme to date and to determine whether improvements can be made to the operation of the programme.

Sports Capital Programme

Under the Sports Capital Programme, significant funding will continue to be allocated to the provision of sporting and recreational facilities at local level by sports clubs and community groups, while also supporting the development of a range of municipal multi-sports centres for and meeting the needs of National Governing of Sport for sport- specific national facilities. Since 1998, over €483m has been allocated to 5781 projects throughout the country under the Programme.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Industries

Under the National Development Plan, support for the Horse and Greyhound racing industries will assist the development of a network of modern, well-managed facilities for horse and greyhound racing in Ireland.

Horse Racing Ireland's capital development plans for the coming years under its Capital Development Programme include major redevelopments such as the Curragh, Galway, Leopardstown, Punchestown and Fairyhouse. The current programme will also support the development of Ireland's first all-weather racetrack first floodlit track and the first combined horse and greyhound racing facility at Dundalk. Bord na gCon's immediate priority includes the development of a new track at Limerick.