Laois County Council have poured cold water on talks of a Regional Sports Centre in Portlaoise, saying they are not “in a position to develop a programme of that scale.”
The matter has been a hot topic in recent times, with Cllrs Marie Tuohy of Labour and Caroline Dwane-Stanley of Sinn Féin raising the issue on multiple recent occasions.
It emerged during the week that an independent report, commissioned by Laois County Council in 2019, had recommended that Portlaoise be used as the location for a Regional Sports Centre, for the betterment of communities throughout the Midlands and the South-East.
Cllr Tuohy once again highlighted the the project at the Council’s May monthly meeting – the final meeting before the June 7 Local Elections – asking that an up-to-date feasibility study be undertaken.
The Council’s response was: “Ahead of looking for sites, it is considered that the first matter to be decided is the question of the type of facility to be provided.
“Given the needs of the County and of Portlaoise as the County town, it is considered that initial efforts be focused on the provision of an additional sports hall within Portlaoise as a community-level facility.”
This led to a backlash from several Cllrs, voicing their disappointment with the Council’s retort.
“I wouldn’t agree with an additional sports hall, it’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about a Sports Complex, and we’re talking about it a very long time,” Cllr Tuohy said.
“What we’re talking about is a fully accessible Sports Complex, not just for basketball – a Complex for all facilities. We’re talking about a substantially large Complex.
“It’s entirely doable. It’s in other counties. It needs to be up to standard; fully fitted; and fully accessible.
“After health, housing, and schools, one of the most important for Portlaoise families and Laois families is the issue of facilities, amenities and services for the children.
“A proper, multi-purpose, modern Sports Complex is chief among them. Public representatives are in favour, and support the idea, but it is yet to be embraced and run with at official level.”
Cllr Dwane Stanley, who spoke to LaoisToday last week about the feasibility report, added: “The reality is that the Council can’t do it on its own, it does need other stakeholders at the table.
“It needs Sport Ireland and Basketball Ireland – they’re the ones who get the money; but we have a role to play in that as a Council: we can provide the site; and we can support the other two bodies in drawing down the necessary grants.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald supported the motion, calling the Council’s response “one of the most disappointing responses Laois County Council has ever received and one of the worst responses Cllrs were ever given.
“This is a major issue for Portlaoise and the County. We, elected members, have been asking for this and pushing for this; we really need the drive and the ambition to come now from the management and the executive of Laois County Council.
“A sports hall is only a drop in the ocean. We talk about health and wellness and sports – we have to provide this facility, there’s no option but for Laois County Council to come on board.
“No way will I accept a response like that. It’s a disgraceful response, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s really, really not listening to the elected members.”
Fine Gael Cllr Thomasina Connell hit out at the Council, who she said are “ignoring the community.” Cllr Connell said the report “was hidden” and that she and other Cllrs had asked for it to be disclosed numerous times over the past five years.
Mr Simon Walton, Acting-CEO of Laois County Council explained the wording of the aforementioned response:
“Sport Ireland are the authority charged statutorily with the development of sport in Ireland.
“If you look at the feasibility study, and all the costs associated with providing the Regional Sports Centre that everyone wants, it’s definitely in excess of €30 million.
“The reality is that Council will not be in a position to develop a programme of that scale, other than there is significant state support.
“In drafting the response, that was one of the issues we were trying to take into account – if we do have the support of the State, Sport Ireland, and Basketball Ireland etc, then a Regional Sports Centre can be developed.
“But in circumstances where that support is not available, what would be feasible for Laois County Council to do on it’s own? It won’t be a Regional Sports Centre.
“If you look at St Mary’s Hall, it’s approximately 1,000 square meters, and has provided sports complex services in Portlaoise for a good number of years.
“If we were to provide a 2,000 square meter, new version of St Mary’s Hall on a site in Portlaoise, that would cost in the order of €5 million; which, from a Council perspective, might be more manageable.
“The Council are currently engaging with Sport Ireland to flesh out the detail, and we will revert back to the elected members in the coming months with the options that are available.”
This response led to the Cllrs advocating even further for the Sports Complex as they put forward their arguments of price versus benefits.
“Apart from its obvious uses and benefits, such a Sports Complex would provide an economic, employment, and commercial benefit to the entire County,” Cllr Tuohy said.
“The Cost has to weighed against the benefits – the generational benefits over the next 50, 60, 70 years and beyond.
“We shouldn’t be deterred by the scale of our ambition.”
Cllr Dwane Stanley said: “Yes the price will look like it’s massive – €20 million for the build and €5 million to kit it out, and now five years on, the costs will have risen.
“But you couldn’t put a price on a multi-purpose Sports Complex, and the benefits that would bring to the entire County.
“We have the fastest growing population outside of Dublin, we have the youngest population – so the argument for the necessity of it has been won; what we now need to do is move it on.”
Fine Gael Cllr Barry Walsh reiterated the disappointment with the Council’s response, saying “the tourist benefits of this to the County would be huge. We’re in a central location and we could easily bring people in from outside the County.
“We’ve already missed out on a couple of big grants that we’re available; we need to have a plan in place to be ready for these grants when they come up.
“There’s nothing to say this can’t be done on a phased basis; even if the whole thing costs €100 million, we could phase out the costs – but we need to start planning for it now.”
Part colleague agreed that an updated feasibility study is needed, saying the 2019 report is “outdated.”
The report suggested four different council-owned locations for the proposed Sports Complex, which has proven to be another bone of contention for the Council.
“It was mentioned at the last meeting here, about Moneyballytyrrell, which is the Leisure Centre site; that’s not suitable – it’s hardly adequate to facilitate what needs are currently there,” Cllr Tuohy said.
Cllr Dwane Stanley concurred, saying: “I don’t think Moneyvalleytyrrell is big enough – and the feasibility actually confirms that.
“Look at what’s needed and what’s required: wheelchair accessibility and sports for people who are wheelchair users. We have lands in our own ownership, we now need to move it on.”
Cllr Walsh told the Council called for a new, updated feasibility study to be carried out, and said that he believed “a greenfield site with room to grow” is needed for the development.
Independent Cllr Aisling Moran bemoaned the lack of a dedicated EU Officer, which she has been calling for over recent years, who’s sole responsibility is to source and apply for all potential EU grants available to Laois County Council.
“The EU had €2.7 trillion in funding offered out for community and green projects; so there is funding out there,” Cllr Moran said.
“There’s other funding you can get for disability grants. And there’s money for seating if you’re going to do this as an arena – and it needs to be an arena.
“We found €7.6 million to put a library in the centre of the town, surely to God we can find funding for this.”
An irate Cllr Fitzgerald accused the Council of lacking urgency on the matter, saying: “Of course we know it’s going to cost money, but we have to apply for grants – we have to be ready.
“But we haven’t applied for anything – because we’re not ready. Every other county is out there getting grants and we are not even applying; we’re being left behind.”
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