Campus Ireland Project
National Sports Campus at Abbotstown
In November 2005, the Government approved the commencement of Phase 1 of the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown. The estimated cost of Phase 1 is €119 million (2004 prices). Following the recent selection of specialist design and project management teams, detailed work on the Campus is planned with a view to an application for planning permission being made before the end of this year (2008).
Phase 1 will provide:
- A National Field Sports Training Centre, catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey;
- A National Indoor Training Centre which will provide world class training facilities for over thirty Governing Bodies of Sport;
- Accommodation for sports men and women, sports science and medical facilities;
- All-weather synthetic pitches for community use;
- Renovation of existing buildings to cater for needs identified by sports bodies.
The Government decision of November 2005 specifically included agreement to relocate the headquarters of the FAI to the former State Laboratory building at Abbotstown. The newly refurbished offices for the FAI were officially opened by the Minister in November 2007. It is also intended to provide a headquarters for the Institute of Sport by refurbishing the former Central Meat Control Laboratory building. Planning permission has been secured and it is intended that the Institute should be based there later this year (2008).
The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) was established on a statutory basis, succeeding in function and responsibility Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Company Ltd. (CSID) from 1 January 2007. The Authority continues the role of overseeing the planning and development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. In addition, one of the tasks of the new Authority is the identification and prioritisation of the next phase of the development, in respect of which €30 million has been provided in the National Development Plan 2007-2013.
National Aquatic Centre
The National Aquatic Centre was the first facility to be built at Abbotstown, having opened in 2003 at a total capital cost of €70.5m. It successfully hosted the swimming events of the Special Olympic Summer Games in June 2003 and the European Short Course Championships in December 2003. The Centre is one of the world's largest indoor water centres and comprises:
- a 10-lane 50 metre X 25 metre international standard swimming pool with two moveable floors which will allow it to be reconfigured for leisure activities.
- a 25 metre international standard diving pool/warm up pool.
- extensive leisure waters including adventure water rides, with children's play pool and wave pool.
- seating for 2,500 spectators.
- a fitness centre and cafes.
During 2005, CSID Ltd. initiated legal proceedings against Dublin Waterworld Ltd., the operators of the Centre, because of the latter's failure to comply with its obligations under the lease. On 14 November 2006, the Supreme Court confirmed an earlier Order of Possession for the National Aquatic Centre in favour of CSID, and the facility was handed back to CSID on 30 November 2006.