Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Dublin Soccer Facilities.

Mr. Lawlor

A recent publication by Dublin Chamber of Commerce carried the headline "Dublin scores with sport". Dublin could well score also with premiership football if there is a willingness and collective support from the Minister and various other interested groups. Many years ago I recommended to those concerned that the strategically placed satellite region of Clondalkin/Lucan was the most logical place to situate an international soccer stadium. I did not foresee the possibility or potential for premiership football being played here. Owing to difficulties with staging international soccer games at Lansdowne Road, because of the playing surface as well as the safety requirements of FIFA, I feel the facilities are inadequate. If we are to grow as a nation and provide the facilities necessary for international soccer than a national soccer stadium should be provided.

At one stage I thought this would be a landmark project for the national lottery. With such funding phased in over 20 or 25 years it could have been provided by the sporting sector and the Minister of State with responsibility for sport. However, as a result of planning permission having been granted for the project, other consortia have entered the equation and they should be encouraged and supported.

A Dublin-based premiership team competing with teams like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur would boost gates which are currently low. Huge numbers of soccer fans here travelled to the World Cup in Italy and the United States. It is obvious that if premiership football is provided in the greater Dublin region it would amount to the equivalent of an international soccer match being played in the city every second Saturday.

The begrudging, petty and ridiculous attitude of the FAI is absolutely baffling. Apart from some exceptions, they have been negative. People involved in youth soccer are encouraged by the potential of bringing this standard of football to Dublin. Surely the FAI could switch to summer soccer and with a bit of ingenuity could get their act together to co-operate with this move.

Clubs like Stella Maris and other nurseries of Irish soccer consistently send young boys from 14 years of age upwards to UK clubs for trials. If we have a premiership league team playing in Dublin, young players like Roy Keane and other excellent young Irishmen who have made the grade at the top level could play with a Dublin-based club.

The Minister of State should take a number of initiatives. First, he might let it be known to the decision makers in this matter — the chairmen of the UK premiership clubs and to the FA premier league — that there is a welcome and support for the concept of this project in Dublin. I cannot understand UEFA, and to a lesser extent FIFA, because it is generally perceived that a European super league is currently under consideration. Steps like this could begin to make it a reality.

North Clondalkin is a strategic location for such a facility. The national rail line passes by the site, which is just off the ring road motorway and other road networks. The proposed 40,000 seater stadium has a tremendous economic spin off potential. Dublin Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the relocation of Wimbledon football club to Dublin, citing the enormous economic impact such a move would have. It estimates the Dublin Dons could be worth £20 million per year to the capital as well as creating in the region of 200 new jobs. I urge the Minister of State to take a leading role and in an all-party spirit let it be known that we in this House are supportive of doing whatever we can to ensure this project comes to fruition and that international soccer is made available to Irish spectators.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Allen)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. There is no application before my Department seeking financial assistance for the provision of the facility mentioned by him. Over the years there has been talk about a number of such facilities being developed in the Dublin area. The development of an outdoor football stadium at the Phoenix Park and in Neilstown was mentioned at different stages.

The provision of a facility such as that mentioned by Deputy Lawlor would be extremely costly and would require very careful consideration. There is already a huge demand on my sports budget for all types of facilities for all sports throughout the country and from soccer in particular. Already there are 1,500 applications in my Department seeking grant assistance amounting to over £60 million in respect of sports facilities valued at £500 million. Given the limited annual budget available to me, great care has to be taken to ensure that funds are used to the best possible effect. I must have due regard to the legitimate demands of a variety of sports and the needs of the different areas.

As Minister with responsibility for sport, I am particularly aware of the need to provide modern, adequate and attractive facilities for soccer clubs all over the country. I am also conscious of my responsibility to ensure that the game of soccer develops and prospers at all levels and for all age groups, especially our young players.

The explosion in the growth of soccer has been extraordinary in recent years. As a consequence, this has generated an ever increasing demand for the necessary standard of facilities for schoolboy, junior and national league soccer. I have been doing the best I can to assist all levels of soccer through grant aid for the provision and upgrading of pitches. In the recent past, substantial grants have been given to many clubs, including in the Dublin area premier league clubs Bohemians, St. Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne and the Athletic Union League (AUL) in Clonshaugh, for the development of soccer grounds in Dublin.

This has been done with the co-operation of the FAI. I regret the implied attack on the FAI. They have had their problems but I find the FAI is a body which has the development of the game at heart. The FAI also has the responsibility of protecting the interests of all levels of soccer.

It is open to the promoters of the project mentioned by the Deputy to submit a formal application for assistance under my Department's capital programme for the provision of sports facilities, but I stress that no application or approach has been made in the past 12 months.

Mr. Lawlor

There was no mention of financial support. Is the Minister of State for or against it?

Mr. Allen

I am open to approaches from any source and I will listen to any proposals. However, any such application could only be considered in the context of available resources, the demand for assistance from other projects, the overall needs of soccer in Ireland and the many other sporting organisations seeking funds from my Department. In that regard the working group which I appointed to develop an overall national strategy for sport is due to report before the end of the year. In the course of its work the strategy group is reviewing aspects of sport, including future needs, provision and funding of facilities as well as reviewing existing facilities and the alarming under usage of them.

Any project, such as a national outdoor stadium, could only be considered in the light of the strategy group's overall recommendations and the level of resources available. I have not been approached in regard to the issue raised tonight, but my office and I are available at any time to meet anybody concerned with this project. I would classify it as a business decision by a group of business people who are operating a business in London and who, for business reasons, wish to transfer to Dublin. My mind and my office doors are open.