Plans to build the country's biggest indoor sports and entertainment arena as part of the Government's sports campus at Abbotstown are likely to be shelved for several years, it has emerged.
Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID) Ltd has drawn up plans that would see indoor and outdoor pitches, a sports medical research centre and administrative headquarters for sports groups built at the 500-acre site over five years, at a cost of between €100 million and €120 million.
The new plans are in sharp contrast with the Taoiseach's original vision for Abbotstown, which included an 80,000-seater national stadium, golf academy and velodrome. However, construction of a 15,000-seater indoor arena on the site is likely to be delayed because of inadequate transport links to the 500-acre site, according to officials familiar with the plans.
Sports such as basketball, gymnastics and ice-hockey would have benefited from the indoor arena. Officials insist that the arena may be built at a later date as part of a phased development.
Plans for Abbotstown have been approved by the board of CSID and are due to be put to the Cabinet within weeks. A decision on whether to proceed with the development is expected before the end of the year.
While original plans for an 80,000-seater stadium prompted outcry from opposition parties, the more modest proposals for Abbotstown are likely to receive widespread support.
The campus will be built on State-owned land and will be funded primarily through resources from the Government, sports groups and private sector investment.
