Sporting organisations get €85m grant aid windfall

SPORTS minister John O’Donoghue yesterday unveiled an €85 million windfall to help sporting organisations across the country find, train and push the star athletes, footballers and rugby aces of the future.

Mr O’Donoghue unveiled a bumper package of grants to sporting and community organisations under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme — with €3m alone earmarked for the Munster IRFU’s major redevelopment of Thomond Park.

Other major projects to benefit from the taxpayers’ largesse include the redevelopment of Dublin’s RDS as a home venue for Leinster IRFU.

The second phase of the redevelopment of Semple Stadium, a new stadium for Finn Harps FC in Ballybofey and a new stand for Waterford United FC are also among the big projects.

Community and grassroots projects aimed at increasing participation in sport at all levels are also included.

But the minister said the development of national sporting facilities would help create the athletes and top sports stars of the future.

“I am delighted ... to provide assistance to further develop our network of top quality facilities which are of strategic significance to Ireland’s sports development at key locations throughout the country,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

“These important facilities cater for a wide range of sporting disciplines and are designed to meet the training, coaching and competition needs of players and athletes and of world-class elite individuals and squads.”

Also included in the round of grants is a development for Cork County Athletics Board, vital refurbishment and upgrading works at Nenagh Indoor Athletics Centre and significant funding for Athletics Ireland and a number of other national governing bodies of sport for equipment for their clubs and competitors.

Yesterday, the minister also gave the green light to the long-promised National Conference Centre in Dublin.

The approval came almost two decades after such a venue was first suggested.

Mr O’Donoghue confirmed the Government had awarded the contract for construction of the €400m centre to the Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd consortium, which includes property development firm Treasury Holdings and Iarnród Éireann.

The centre will be located at Dublin’s Spencer Dock on the northern bank of the River Liffey.