Tralee sports academy delayed due to funding shortfall

A planned €16m sports academy at the Institute of Technology Tralee has been delayed due to funding problems.

The project will, however, proceed to pre-tender stage.

With the college’s budget reduced by €2m, a spokesperson said that construction will be delayed until the necessary capital funds became available.

The project envisaged a two-storey building with sports hall, adapted physical activity pool, changing rooms and gyms, a lecture theatre as well as performance space.

The institute, in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, has led a number of significant developments in the area of adapted physical activity in Ireland and Europe over the past decade. The innovative programme at Tralee has been recognised by the European Federation in Adapted Physical Activity and by Unesco.

The two-phase project was granted planning permission by Kerry County Council but the institute lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála on the grounds of development levies being imposed.

The council granted permission subject to 15 conditions including a development contribution of €374,000, a levy of €251,000 for the Tralee ring roads project and €85,000 for water and sewerage. The institute is citing a case taken by Cork IT which it won and subsequently avoided paying similar levies.

Approximately 150 jobs would be created in the construction phase of the project, which was due to begin this year, as well as a significant number of new academic and administrative jobs when the academy was constructed.

A spokesperson for the institute said “the sports academy remains a high priority for the institute and bringing it to pre-tender stage ensures that should the necessary capital funding become available the project can immediately proceed to tender stage”.