Cycling Ireland says it is "backing two horses" in the race for an indoor velodrome in Ireland; its own plan for a purpose built track in Dublin and a smaller project now being proposed for Dundalk. Chief executive Geoff Liffey has suggested the Department of Sport, rather than Cycling Ireland, will decide which project gets the green light.
By Gerard Cromwell
Cycling Ireland chief executive, Geoff Liffey has welcomed today’s proposal to house Ireland’s first indoor velodrome in Dundalk but says there are a still a lot of issues to be ironed out before the track becomes reality.
“The Dundalk project came to us only recently,” said Liffey when news of the project broke yesterday.
“It’s an exciting opportunity but there’s a bit more work to be done on it in terms of working out the business plan for the track.
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“In terms of the federation’s position, we are going to look at in a bit more detail before making any final decisions. At the moment we are looking at the business plan and if we can agree a sound plan we will back it, but there are a lot of unanswered questions yet.”
The federation looks certain to join with Dundalk Institute of Technology and Cuchulainn CC in the application for funding for the Dundalk velodrome.
However, Liffey has said Cycling Ireland’s own plans for a purpose built velodrome in Abbottstown are still intact, adding the Government agencies that decide sports funding will likely determine what velodrome gets the green light; Abbottstown or Dundalk.
While Cycling Ireland scrapped long-held plans to house a velodrome of their own in a Dublin factory last June due to leasing difficulties, the national governing body has continued to progress plans for the aforementioned 250-metre velodrome on Sports Campus Ireland in Abbotstown, Dublin.
However, the €7million project due to be shared with Badminton Ireland was kicked down the road for another couple of years at least at a meeting between Cycling Ireland and government officials last week.
“We were looking at (the) project in Abottstown, which is still live, but the timing of it is uncertain at present,” said Liffey.
“The department said it looked great and makes sense but they want to build a multi-sports arena first and we’re more than likely the next project in the queue. We don’t know how long that will take.
“They said they would probably know in the summer as to the next stage of the capital funding for 2015/16. Discussions with Dundalk are ongoing at the moment so it’s like we’re backing two horses, but two tracks aren’t going to work.
“They’re both within 50 miles of each other. Leaving aside the capital costs of getting them up and running, the operational costs would be more the worry. Ultimately, the decision will be with the department to see which one they think is more strategic or more viable in the longer term.”
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While the Cuchulainn club and DKIT hope to open their track before the end of the year, Liffey sees these plans as ‘ambitious’ at best.
“I think it’s ambitious given the timeline. Technically, yeah if you could go in there tomorrow there’s no massive construction time span in putting a track together. It doesn’t take years.
“I don’t know if there would be planning applications to be done, whether the building needs a change of use or whatever, but the biggest thing they have to do is put a tunnel in to get into the middle of the track.
“After that, you get your trusses up and you get your wood and lay the track. If there were no bureaucratic delays it’s possible but I think it’s ambitious because these things take time.”
If the Dundalk project does get the green light from Cycling Ireland, then the lower cost of around €1.2million for construction may sway the balance in their favour when it comes to government funding but the remainder will still have to be raised from elsewhere.
“It would be possible for Dundalk to get some funds from the Sports Capital Grant in June but the biggest fund they have is €300,000.There’s no way that Dundalk, or the federation, is going to have a million Euro by June, and they are somewhat dependent on that.
“Putting levies on licences is a nice intention, but I’m not sure what you’ll get. Any time we go looking for an increase on a racing licence we generally get shot down. Why would a lad in Cork pay an extra fiver for a track in Dundalk? That’s the challenge for Dundalk.
“There usually will be an expectation that the governing bodies would have to raise some money but in Abbotstown that would be split with Badminton Ireland.
“I don’t know exactly... but if they said we’ll only give you €6million, then we’d have to go to Badminton Ireland and split the difference and raise the rest of what’s needed.
“Badminton was going to generate a lot more income in Abbotstown than cycling was, with 10,000 members and 20 clubs there, whereas Dundalk have one club.
“We have plans to put 16 courts in the track centre. I’m not saying that’s the only activity you’ll have, but in velodromes it’s a common one because it’s practical to have guys training on the track and people playing badminton in the centre. It’s a light activity, there’s nobody blowing whistles or distracting riders.
“Both projects are still running at the moment and I suppose Dundalk is attractive because it’s an existing complex with 500 car park spaces. The whole building is worth around €40million so that will give you an idea of the bigger footprint involved.
“Both projects will likely be put forward and ultimately it will be up to the department to make a decision but I don’t have a view as to what way that would go.”
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