Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2006
391 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a dedicated facility for gymnastics will be made available to clubs across north Dublin as part of the Sports Campus Ireland facility at Abbotstown. [14822/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2005 the Government gave its assent to the commencement of phase 1 of the development of the national sports campus at Abbotstown. Phase 1 of the development control plan 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 30 governing bodies of sport; accommodation for sports men and women; sports science and medical facilities; all-weather synthetic pitches for community use and renovation of existing buildings to cater for needs identified by sports bodies.
While a dedicated gymnastics facility is not provided for in phase 1 of the development control plan for the national sports campus at Abbotstown, some gymnastics activities will be accommodated in the national indoor training centre. CSID had a meeting with the Irish Gymnastics Association on 6 April 2006. CSID advised the association that it would be willing to consider any proposal that the association may have for the development of a stand-alone facility in a future phase of the development.
Under the sports capital project, grants are provided by my Department for the provision of sports facilities and equipment for a range of sports. Under the 2005 sports capital programme, nine grants totalling €101,000 were allocated in respect of gymnastics projects. Almost €11.5 million was allocated in 2005 for community or mixed projects, many of which would be suitable for gymnastics.
