Is the shared Cycling Ireland-Badminton Ireland velodrome about to finally begin construction? A government minister said today it's next on the list.
Having seen more false dawns that most other groups in the country, the Irish cycling community may finally be about to see an indoor velodrome constructed.
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar has today suggested the much delayed velodrome is the “next” project set to be added to the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown, west Dublin.
Varadkar, a former sports minister, made the comments at the official opening of another facility at the campus today.
Recording a video which he published on Facebook, Varadkar said he was delighted to be at the opening of the National Indoor Arena by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
“I turned the sod on this facility when I was sports minister a couple of years ago and it’s just wonderful to see it come to fruition,” said.
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“It’s the keystone of our sporting infrastructure up here on the campus.
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“There’s lots of other facilities here already and the next step, of course, is the velodrome and covered training pitches for soccer and rugby. It’s a great project.”
The comments, while welcome, will perhaps been treated with caution by many in cycling as the velodrome has been promised and then stalled several times.
The most recent disappointment came last autumn when the Government’s Budget estimates – which set out spending in all areas this year – were published and no provision was made for the velodrome.
Cycling Ireland confirmed that omission meant the project was stalled once again, adding at the time it was highly unlikely that even if the velodrome did go ahead that it would be ready for training or racing before the next Olympics in 2020.
It appears the next opportunity for a solid step forward for the project’s future will be when the estimates for 2018 are published in about eight months time.
The Government recently opened a €30 million funding round for sports projects and a capital project like the velodrome could in theory be funded through that fund.
Badminton Ireland and Cycling Ireland, who will share the velodrome, would need to apply, though whether a project as large as a velodrome would be provided for via that found is not clear.
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