The long mooted velodrome for Dublin is now dependent on
a Government spending review, despite Cabinet ministers having previously said
it would be the next major piece of sporting infrastructure built in the
Republic.
Just four years ago the cycling community was assured the
velodrome would be the next sporting facility built on the Abbotstown sports
campus in Dublin.
However, last year the Government said the velodrome
would be built if its budget permitted.
And now in its latest remarks, the Government has said
the velodrome was still budget-dependent and now an extra hurdle has been
placed in its path in the shape of a review of the National Development Plan.
That latest comments, by Minister for State Jack Chambers
TD, effectively mean the velodrome is now under consideration as part of the
review of the National Development Plan – a major plan for Government spending
on major projects to 2030.
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It means the velodrome project has gone from being a
certainty to being under review in a new process, though hopefully it will
survive that review.
In January, 2017, then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the
velodrome would be the next project constructed at the National Sports Campus
in Abbotstown, north Dublin.
“There’s lots of other facilities here already,” he said
at the time of Abbotstown. “And the next step, of course, is the velodrome and
covered training pitches for soccer and rugby. It’s a great project.”
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That commitment has gradually weakened in the years since
then and just last August the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Eamon
Ryan TD (Greens) stated the project is now budget-dependent.
“Sport Ireland submitted a revised business case for the
project to my Department in May. This is currently being examined by my
officials in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code,” he said
last August.
“Any decision on this project will be subject to
Ministerial approval and the availability of funding.”
And now the Minister of State at the Department of
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Jack Chambers has reiterated
what Eamon Ryan said last year and has added another condition, as the plan for
the velodrome must also now survive the review of the National Development
Plan.
In reply to a parliamentary question tabled by Ciaran
Cannon TD, Mr Chambers has set out the official position for the velodrome and
it’s a far cry from the assurance in 2017 that the velodrome was next in the
queue to be built.
“Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the
statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing
participation at all levels and raising standards, including the development of
the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus at Abbotstown,” he said.
“The
National Development Plan 2018-2027 included a commitment to develop a National
Velodrome and Badminton Centre at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in
2020 and 2021. The proposal at that time comprised a 250-metre cycling track,
12-16 Badminton Courts in the in-track area, spectator seating and ancillary
facilities including office space.
“A review
of the original design scheme for the project was undertaken by Sport Ireland
in 2019 to assess the suitability and fitness of the design for present and
future purposes. The review, which was completed in October 2019, proposed a
number of design changes. Sport Ireland submitted a revised business case for
the project to my Department in May 2020 in line with the requirements of the
Public Spending Code.
“As the Deputy may be aware, a review of the National Development Plan is currently underway. Any decision on the commencement of this project will be subject to Ministerial approval and the availability of capital funding under the revised National Development Plan."
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