FAI and IRFU get €20m boost
Minister O’Donoghue added that the first phase of the Abbotstown Sports Campus will result in facilities fit for use by teams preparing for the 2012 Olympics in London. Budget funding is now in place for work to begin on phase one, which is expected to extend over five years from 2006 to 2010, and O’Donoghue has directed Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd to get the project under way in the New Year.
Phase one will see the development of facilities and training areas for both professional (rugby and soccer) and amateur (Gaelic football, hurling and hockey) field games. In addition, there will be facilities and pitches suitable for a wide range of sports and services generally available for up to 30 sports bodies and open to the public.
The professional and amateur training area is presented as a ‘shamrock concept’ centred around a core building and pitches. The central building will provide living accommodation, restaurant, fitness training, gym, sports medical and recovery areas. Clustered around this block will be changing/training facilities and pitches in three dedicated areas. A range of pitches will be provided, both natural turf and synthetic pitches, and some will be floodlit.
In the amateur sports zone there will be a multi-functional National Indoor Training Centre with changing facilities, a 1,500-seater sports hall and an ancillary hall. Specialist facilities for the National Governing Bodies of Sport will also be available for use by the general public.
Minister O’Donoghue said: “With this standard of facility, we can now look forward to a situation in which Ireland could be an attractive option as a training base for international Olympic teams in the context of the London Olympics of 2012.”
The Government has also approved the opening of discussions with the FAI with a view to relocating the FAI headquarters in the former State Laboratory building at Abbotstown, meaning the entire FAI full-time office staff could be leaving their central Dublin base within the next 12 months.
Mr O’Donoghue said that putting in place a headquarters and National Academy that provides training, education, competition and advisory facilities has always been an integral part of the FAI’s plans for the development of the game and their own Technical Development Plan.
The bonus for young Irish players is that instead of joining English clubs as starry-eyed teenagers and in the main returning disillusioned and dropping out of the game, they’ll now have the facilities at home to develop their talents under the eyes of top coaches.
“This is definitely a move in the right direction,” said former Republic of Ireland boss Eoin Hand. “Young players now will have the option of staying at home.”
The 2006-2010 capital envelope for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism also sets aside €20m next year for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. The Exchequer will provide €191m towards this €365m project with the balance coming from the IRFU and FAI. The project is progressing on schedule and documentation in support of an application for planning permission will be ready for lodgement by the end of this month.
FAI chief John Delaney welcomed the news: “The support for a National Coaching Centre and Academy, as well as a Headquarters for the Association, further reflects Government commitment to the development of young people in sport and is a strong investment in the future of our game.
“We will immediately engage with Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Company in progressing the development of the sports facilities at Abbotstown to meet the present and future needs of the Association.”
An IRFU spokesperson said the Union looked forward to its players and squads utilising the facilities that will be provided and welcomed the €20m set aside for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.
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