Agency to oversee Campus Ireland planned

Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue said he intends setting up a statutory agency to oversee the proposed Campus Ireland project at Abbotstown in Dublin.

"I am conscious of the need to have top-class sport facilities in place in good time to create opportunities which would promote Ireland as a location for foreign teams wishing to avail of training for the London Olympics in 2012."

Fine Gael's spokesman Jimmy Deenihan said he was somewhat disappointed that provision had not been made in the Estimates for the development.

However, he added, Mr O'Donoghue had indicated provision for it would be made in the budget and he looked forward to that.

"I must stress the importance of this facility for Irish sport. It is vital that it is provided to ensure Irish sport can compete at international level. It is also critical for so many of our young athletes so as to develop their talents to compete internationally for Ireland. This would be a centre for excellence, an academy for sport and cover all the main national outdoor sports."

Mr O'Donoghue said that the Estimates related only to current expenditure, and it was anticipated that capital projects would be announced later.

Some work needed to be done on the Abbotstown proposal, he added. "We would have to enter into arrangements for funding over four years for phase one of the programme. It will be decided in the current discussions with the Minister for Finance on the capital provision for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism."

He said that Campus Stadium Ireland Development Ltd was asked to prepare a list of priorities on the construction of the sports campus for consideration. The company had done so and those proposals had been presented in the usual manner to the Minister for Finance. They must now await announcements from the Minister on the capital budget provision, and Mr O'Donoghue expected this would be done either before or during the budget speech.

Labour's spokesman Jack Wall said that given the costs which would be incurred to send a team to the Beijing games, the real aim of all sporting disciplines would be the London games.

"Not since 1948 have we had a better opportunity to send teams to the games. London has a similar climate to Ireland's climate, which will also be helpful to an Irish team. However, we will want the team prepared to the highest level of excellence. The proposed sports campus gives us the ideal opportunity to achieve this."

Mr O'Donoghue said phase one of the development would involve a four-year period, but it might be a five-year cycle. Phase one would provide pitches and ancillary facilities catering for rugby, soccer and Gaelic games.