Almost two years on from planning permission being granted for the new 250m velodrome in Dublin, the tendering process has not begun and now the promises about the facility will have to survive a change of Government in the Republic.
Construction was initially due to start in August, 2023, though funding has still not been allocated. And the Irish cycling community must keep its fingers crossed that whatever Government is in office after the upcoming election will honour the promises made to date.
In the latest update on how the plans are going, the Government has revealed Sport Ireland remains in the process of preparing to get the tendering process underway for awarding the contract for construction.
And the latest timeline now also just set out for funding, and the track being constructed and completed, appear to remain aspirational at this stage.
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This is despite Minister for Sport and Tourism Catherine Martin announcing in August - amid the excitement of the Olympics - the Government had given the "green light" to the project.
However, it is now clear the funding is not in place - and will not be committed until next year at the earliest - with the start of construction obviously dependent on the money being in place first.
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The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will be built on the Sport Ireland campus in Abbottstown, west Dublin.
"Planning permission for this project was awarded by Fingal County Council in January 2023 and Sport Ireland is now proceeding to tender stage," Minister for State for Sport and Tourism Thomas Byrne TD told the Dáil.
"It is expected that construction will begin in 2025, with a likely completion date of mid-2027," Byrne added.
That timeline means the velodrome is now very unlikely to play a role in preparing riders for the next Olympics, especially given the delays that often occur with the construction of public projects in Ireland when they get underway.
The National Velodrome and Badminton Centre will comprise a 250-metre cycling track and up to 12 badminton courts in the in-track area, in addition to spectator seating and ancillary facilities.
Byrne added the centre would "provide world-class track cycling facilities for our athletes who currently have to travel abroad for both training and competition, as well as providing the sport of badminton with integrated training, gym and medical facilities".
