National Sports Campus Development Authority
The National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) was established under statute in 2007.
The principal functions of the National Sports Campus Development Authority are to:
- Develop a sports campus on the Abbotstown site;
- Furnish and equip the sports campus;
- Manage, operate and maintain the sports campus; and
- Encourage and promote the use of the sports campus by professional and amateur sports people and members of the public.
The National Sports Campus already contains the National Aquatic Centre, the headquarters of the FAI and of the Institute of Sport (IIS).
Sports Campus at Abbotstown (Blanchardstown)
In November 2005 the Government approved proceeding with Phase One of the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown (Blanchardstown) and planning permission was secured on 26 August 2009. In light of the economic downturn the Department asked the NSCDA to prepare revised plans that would enable the project to be delivered on a phased basis.
On 21 June 2011, the Government approved proposals submitted by the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport in relation to the development of the National Sports Campus as follows:
- proceeding with an incremental development of facilities viz. a National Indoor Training Arena and a Partnership Development Strategy with the GAA, FAI, IRFU and IHA);
- the transfer of the lands at Abbotstown (Blanchardstown) from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food to the National Sports Campus Development Authority;
- that the National Sports Campus Development Authority, in consultation with the Irish Sports Council and the Office of Public Works, examine the possibility of relocating the Council to Abbotstown House, a listed building on the Abbotstown (Blanchardstown) site and report back to him with proposals for its future use;
National Aquatic Centre
The National Aquatic Centre was the first facility to be built at Abbotstown (Blanchardstown), having opened in 2003 at a total capital cost of €70.5m including VAT. It successfully hosted the swimming events of the Special Olympic World Summer Games in June 2003 and the European Short Course Championships in December 2003. The Centre is one of the world's largest indoor aquatic centres and comprises:
- a 10-lane 50 metre X 25 metre international standard swimming pool with two moveable floors which will allow it to be reconfigured for leisure activities.
- a 25 metre international standard diving pool/warm up pool.
- extensive leisure waters including adventure water rides, with children's play pool and wave pool.
- seating for 2,500 spectators.
- a fitness centre and cafe.
Based on Fáilte Ireland statistics for 2008, the Centre was the fourth most popular paying visitor attraction in the State with some 707,000 visits. During 2009, the number of visitors to the Centre increased to 723,000. In 2010, a total of almost 722,000 visits were recorded – making the NAC the third most popular fee paying attraction in Ireland. The slight decrease in 2010 must be viewed in the context of two periods of sustained and extreme inclement weather experienced during the course of 2010 – given that footfall during the summer months of 2010 was up almost 4% on 2009.
During 2010, the Centre was awarded the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) White Flag award for the fourth consecutive year - the official accolade of the Irish leisure industry professions recognising standards of excellence in health and leisure facilities. The Centre was also awarded the ILAM Gold Standard Accessibility Award and was nominated in all categories of the O2 Ability Awards – both recognising the access and facility improvements put in place by the Authority over the past number of years.
The American Olympic Synchronized Swimming Squad has chosen the National Aquatic Centre as its pre-Olympic 2012 Training Base. The Great Britain Paralympic Swimming Squad has also signed up for a week's training at the Centre in November 2011. The Hungarian and Great Britain Water Polo teams played a series of friendly internationals recently in preparation for London 2012.
For more information contact
National Sports Campus Development Authority
IIS Building
National Sports Campus
Abbotstown (Blanchardstown)
Dublin 15
Tel:(+353 1) 809 7300
Fax: (+353 1) 809 7332
E-mail: info@nscda.ie
Web: www.nscda.ie