Cavan/ Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has warmly welcomed the approval by the Special EU Programmes Body of €15 million under PEACEPLUS Funding for Phase 1 of the Cavan Regional Sports Campus.
“I appreciate the work of Gina McIntyre, CEO SEUPB, the support of An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, and the Minister for Community and Rural Development Dara Calleary TD in progressing this particular application. Repeatedly I had discussed with them the merits and the potential of this project which will bring great benefits not just to Cavan but to the wider region. It will be transformative for recreation and sports for a wide area and for so many different sporting disciplines.
“Last November I was delighted to announce that my colleague, Thomas Byrne TD, as Minister for Sports had approved €19 million towards this project under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. Prior to that I was glad to have arranged for Minister Byrne to get a briefing by the partners in this project and hear at firsthand about its potential. I also wish to acknowledge in particular the recent work of Minister Dara Calleary in advancing this application under the PEACEPLUS Programme and securing this additional €15 million for the Regional Sports Campus.
“This Sports Campus will provide covered sports arena with playing pitch, spectator seating, and other ancillary accommodation. The Sports Centre Building will have changing facilities, multi-purpose rooms, reception and ancillary accommodation.
“The project site is a 28-hectare parcel of land zoned for sport/recreation & public/community, located between Breffni Park and The Royal School, Cavan. There will be 4 GAA fields, synthetic hockey/ multi-sport pitch, cricket practice area/catch nets and all facilities with lighting. In all, eleven National Government Bodies are in support of this project.
“This project in a town centre site is being provided by Cavan County Council, Cavan GAA and The Royal School and I strongly commend their work and commitment to this fabulous project which will be of huge significance to our region, said Deputy Brendan Smith.
“Among the facilities that will be provided in the Campus Master Plan are:
- Covered multi-sports arena with an indoor playing pitch, along with spectator seating
- Indoor sports complex including social spaces, fitness and community spaces
- 7 outdoor sports pitches, cricket practice nets, spectator stands, perimeter fencing, ball stops, team shelters and floodlighting
- 8 lane athletics track and field
- New vehicular access, junction reconfiguration and entrance plaza
- Pedestrian and cycling access points with active travel provisions
- Landscaping to complement the natural setting and to encourage leisure walking.
I am very glad to have supported this project from the outset and I compliment the partners on their vision in undertaking a project that will be a game changer for this region in relation to access to top quality and wide ranging recreational and sporting facilities.”
“I am delighted to have worked closely with Minister Calleary and the project promoters in advancing this very significant initiative that will bring great benefits across sports, recreation, health and wellness for our communities and for future generations,” concluded Deputy Brendan Smith.
