Minister welcomes progress on sports campus

THE National Sports Campus in Dublin 15 is still on track to become the centre for Irish sport, according to Minister Leo Varadkar (FG).

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said works were progressing well and that plans were afoot to develop facilities for Horse Sport Ireland (HSE) and Pentathlon Ireland at the Blanchardstown site.

He was speaking at a briefing to detail the developments at the National Sports Campus. During the briefing he also revealed that lease agreements have been put in place with the FAI, GAA, IRFU and Irish Hockey Association (IHA), since the ownership of the lands at Blanchardstown were transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Campus Development Authority in August.

“I’m very pleased with the huge progress made in the last six months,

? Minister Varadkar stated.

“I hope this decision by HSI and Pentathlon Ireland will encourage many other NGBs to view the campus as an ideal site for developing facilities and enhancing their own sport.

“Following on from the recent positive announcement on investment in training pitches from the FAI earlier this month, this announcement shows that the partnership approach between Gov- ­­ernment and sporting bodies that I announced last March is working.

?

Procurement and installation works required for the development of high per­­for- ­mance training facilities for HSI and Pentathlon Ireland are already underway and are expected to be complete in March 2013.

HSI Chairman Joe Walsh described the move as a

“very important step for Irish equestrian and affiliated sports

?.

“It not only provides us with the dedicated training facilities which we need, but it also merges equestrian sports with other mainstream sporting disciplines which can only be of benefit to all of Irish sport,

? he stated.

“Priority access will be given to high performance athletes, but the facilities will also be used by HIS affiliates and will also be open for private hire by the public.

?

Meanwhile, site clearance and infrastructure works are also due to get underway to make the Blanchardstown site more accessible. This will be followed by the installation of multi-sport all-weather pitches and a pavilion for use by the local community, works that are due to be completed next year.