Government announces plan for National Sports Campus

The Government is pushing ahead with a plan to develop 205 acres close to Dublin's M50 as a centre of sporting excellence.

The FAI headquarters, Institute of Sport HQ and the National Aquatic Centre are already located on the tract of land at Abbotstown, west Dublin.

Now contracts have been signed to push ahead with plans to construct a sports campus that will offer Ireland's elite athletes training and support systems "that compare favourably with the best internationally".

The official estimate of the cost of the plan based on 2004 prices is €119m.

The signing of the contracts with the design team and project managers signals the commencement of Phase 1.

Faulkner Brown Architects and Davis Langdon will now finalise the design of the proposed facilities in consultation with Ireland's sports bosses.

Representatives from soccer, rugby and GAA attended today's briefing by Minister for Sports Seamus Brennan and chairman of the National Sports Development Authority Dan Flinter.

The blueprint will take up to four years to deliver and when finished will host a national field sports training centre, as well as on site accommodation and support facilities.