Plans for the new international-standard velodrome in Dublin have moved to the next phase, with the tender evaluation process complete and the Government considering the business case towards funding the project.
The fact the process has now moved beyond evaluating tenders to build the shared cycling and badminton facility is a significant milestone and comes 2½ years after planning permission was awarded by Fingal County Council.
Though every juncture in the Sport Ireland project appears beset with delay – based on Sport Ireland’s own previous timetable – the fact the process is effectively in Government hands might quicken the pace a little. However, slippages to date call into question the possibility the track will be available to aid our track cyclists qualify for the 2028 Olympics, though hopefully it will.
In its latest update on the project, the Government has set out the recent progress as well as the likely timetable for final funding, construction and completion. That update comes almost a year after ministerial approval was announced for the project to proceed to tender.
“The tender evaluation process was completed in recent weeks and Sport Ireland submitted a final business case to my Department,” said Minister Patrick O’Donovan in reply to a Dáil question from Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly TD, in whose Dublin West constituency the facility will be built.
“(The business case) is currently being examined to ensure compliance with the Infrastructure Guidelines and the Capital Works Management Framework. Subject to the findings and recommendations of my Department, I will consider the final business case.
“And I hope to confirm the overall budget allocation for the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre later this year. It is anticipated that construction will begin before end-2025 with a likely completion date of mid-2027.”
The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will be built on the National Sports Campus on Abbotstown, west Dublin, and will include the 250 cycling track as well as up to 12 badminton courts in the in-track area, in addition to spectator seating and ancillary facilities.
In early 2023 a ‘key dates summary’ drawn up by Sport Ireland for the velodrome-badminton centre envisaged the works contract being awarded in July of that year – exactly two years ago now. ‘Practical completion’ was projected by March 2025 and the handover of the facility was predicted for May 2025.
However, though every prediction for the Sport Ireland project in recent years has been hopelessly missed, the latest moves look promising and the next six to 12 months should see construction finally begin.
