I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 196 together.
A business case has been submitted to my Department regarding the proposed development of an ice hockey and winter sports arena in Cherrywood, Dublin. The facility would feature two Olympic sized ice rinks and serve as a permanent home for Irish ice sports. The arena’s multi-purpose design would also facilitate the hosting of a variety of events such as concerts, conferences and exhibitions.
While the project promoters, Prime Arena Holdings, have secured private funding for the majority of the project cost, they are also seeking sizable State investment. Minister O’Donovan and I, with officials, have met them to receive a detailed presentation on the proposal. I understand that the promoters have also engaged with a number of other Government colleagues and State Agencies.
My Department is finalising its assessment of the proposed project, with a specific focus on the sporting benefits arising. The project also has a range of other potential benefits, including for the tourism, business and events sectors, and any decision regarding a significant State investment in the project would ultimately be a matter for the Government as a whole based on detailed engagement and consideration by a range of other departments and agencies.
There is no permanent ice rink in the State and the project proposal envisages that one rink would be used by a professional ice hockey franchise while the second would be publicly available on a year-round basis and could serve as a national centre for clubs, athletes and National Governing Bodies from a range of ice sports such as ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and curling. The promoters are proposing that that this public rink could be operated by or in conjunction with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in collaboration with the various ice sport National Governing Bodies. The Olympic Federation of Ireland has publicly welcomed the proposal as a key step in providing for winter sports in Ireland.
Sport Ireland has previously given consideration to the inclusion of an ice rink facility as part of its ongoing campus development and commissioned a feasibility study in this regard. The study was completed in 2021 and Sport Ireland has concluded that the development of an ice rink on the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown is not a priority in the near future given the scale of other projects under development. These projects include the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre which is under construction at present, and the National Cricket Stadium which I would expect to see underway next year.
