Centre of excellence cash may be redirected to Turner's Cross renovation
Funding previously earmarked for a soccer centre of excellence in Cork could be redirected to a renovation of the Turner's Cross stadium. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Funding previously earmarked for a soccer centre of excellence in Cork could be redirected to a renovation of the Turner's Cross stadium.
A plan for a €12m centre in Glanmire was shelved last year, but it is understood that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is working on a proposal which could see funding which had been previously pledged by the Government used for the stadium or other projects in Cork.
An FAI spokesperson told the that the association is working with the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) section in the Department of Sport around the use of over €2m which had been pledged to the project. In May, junior sports minister Thomas Byrne said in a parliamentary response that the FAI had "requested that the LSSIF grant allocation of €2,025,699 would still be made available for a location in Cork".
An FAI spokesperson said: “We're actively engaged with the LSSIF Department on a proposal but at this point in time, we cannot confirm anything until the process is completed.”
In May of last year, the FAI said that it was "the board’s view that the original proposal no longer represents the greatest return on investment for the parties involved". Under the plan, Cork City FC would be anchor tenants, but the three grass pitches, one full-size astroturf, three smaller pitches, a viewing terrace, and pavilion would, finally, create a footballing hub for the game in the south at a cost of around €12-15m.
Meanwhile, Mr Byrne has given the greenlight for Sport Ireland to begin work on some of the smaller items on the masterplan for its campus. Launched in 2022, the masterplan for the campus will see cycling and badminton being the first to benefit with the construction of a velodrome and courts having gone to tender this year.
A spokesperson for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, said: "Under the National Sports Policy 2018-2027, there is a commitment to further develop the national sports campus in Blanchardstown.
"A new campus masterplan was approved by the Government in November 2022, which sets out a vision for the long-term development of world-class sports facilities and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the phased delivery of the national sports campus. In recent months, approval was granted by the Government to progress the development of a new national velodrome and badminton centre and a new national cricket stadium at the campus.
"The campus masterplan also provides for the development of an athletics running track and Minister Byrne has asked Sport Ireland to progress design and planning in this regard. Importantly, once developed, the new athletics running track on the Campus would be for the benefit of both high performance athletes and local community users.
"Minister Byrne fully recognises the importance of such facilities in encouraging community participation in sport and general well-being. The Government will continue to support Sport Ireland in bringing the vision outlined in the Campus Masterplan to fruition."
The masterplan will also much-needed accommodation for up to 180 athletes at any one time is also earmarked for immediate development. Other facilities planned include a centre of innovation and a museum of Irish Sport within the vast Abbotstown, West Dublin site at Blanchardstown.
