There is now virtually no chance the velodrome will be built, and it may not even be started, before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The long-mooted plans for an indoor velodrome in Ireland are on hold again after Cycling Ireland confirmed no money has been allocated for the project next year.
The ongoing saga, which is gradually turning into an embarrassment for the sport, is likely to be debated at Cycling Ireland's AGM in Limerick tomorrow.
Stickybottle has raised the issue - specifically announcements the project was happening only to be followed by more delays - repeatedly in recent years.
And when studying the Government’s Budget allocation for all departments and projects for next year and seeing no mention of any funding for the velodrome we contacted Cycling Ireland for comment.
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Chief executive Geoff Liffey confirmed the project had been pushed back yet again.
“Specifically for the velodrome; at present planning permission remains in place," he said of the planning permission granted in 2013.
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"Sport Ireland is currently under taking a cost benefit analysis for this project which is expected to be completed in the next few weeks,” Liffey added.
“There is nothing unusual in doing the cost benefit analysis as it is being requested now for all future major capital projects.
“Cycling Ireland's priority is to ensure that the velodrome remains next on the list for projects to be commenced at the Sports Campus site following the completion of the National Indoor Arena.
“We remain in contact with the relevant Government officials and also with Badminton Ireland on the project which would be a significant boost for their sport also,” he added in reference in the fact the facility would be shared between badminton and cycling.
It means the velodrome will be started in 2018 at the very earliest, despite planning permission having been in place since 2013.
And there is now no chance it will be operating for any length of time before the 2020 Olympics and judging by the delays to date construction may not even be started.
While Liffey has said Cycling Ireland was determined to ensure the velodrome was next to be built after the next phase of the National Indoor Arena was completed, Sport Ireland recently questioned if that project would happen next year.
It pointed out that the local sports groups and national governing bodies under its remit were receiving no extra funding for 2017, with no clarity on the next phase of the indoor arena.
Until the next phase of that arena is built, the velodrome will not be started.
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