Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 9

Written Answers. - National Sports Centre.

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Question:

89 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Education if in view of a media report (details supplied) on the siting of the National Sports Centre and in view of the fact that the old Baldoyle racecourse is (a) adjacent to all services including DART, Dublin Bus and Dublin Airport, (b) is in the vicinity of major golf clubs and other facilities which would complement the National Sports Centre she will make a decision in favour of the Baldoyle site; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The Government have approved the establishment of a national indoor sports centre to be located on a 12-acre site in the Custom House Docks area of Dublin with funding from the national lottery.

The Custom House Docks Development Authority, who are my Department's development agent for the project, have either acquired or agreed terms for approximately 90 per cent of the site for the project and negotiations are on-going for the acquisition of the remainder of the site.

The detailed brief on which proposals will be invited from shortlisted consortia on a design, construct, finance and manage basis is virtually completed by the Custom House Docks Development Authority in consultation with my Department.

My Department have no plans to provide a national sports complex in Baldoyle.