Taoiseach Leo Varadkar heard plans about the new national watersports campus in Dún Laoghaire Harbour during a visit to the east coast port last Friday. 

Following consultation with stakeholders, a working document that outlines the planned National Watersports Campus has been published by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in partnership with Irish Sailing and Diving Ireland.

Senator Barry Ward of Fine Gael said during the visit, a number of important issues were discussed, as well as the plan for the campus.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an award of €400,000 under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Grant scheme in 2019 funded a study on the feasibility of the proposal for Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Carlisle Pier has been proposed as a location for the project that would involve a venue for national and international events and a high-performance watersports coaching centre in the Coal Harbour area.

But the campus is envisaged to encompass the whole harbour area from Seapoint to Sandycove, as a hub of activity for the entire community, including key Coal Harbour upgrades.

It would also involve an education centre for schools, community groups and clubs, and a public slipway for recreational craft users who are not members of the harbour sailing clubs.

For more, see the concept document HERE.

Following consultation with stakeholders, a working document that outlines the planned National Watersports Campus has been published by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in partnership with Irish Sailing and Diving Ireland.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an award of €400,000 under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Grant scheme in 2019 funded a study on the feasibility of the proposal for Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Carlisle Pier has been proposed as a location for the project that would involve a high-performance watersports coaching centre and a venue for national and international events.

But the campus is envisaged to encompass the whole harbour area from Seapoint to Sandycove, as a hub of activity for the entire community, including key Coal Harbour upgrades.

It would also involve an education centre for schools, community groups and clubs, and a public slipway for recreational craft users who are not members of the harbour sailing clubs.

For more, see the concept document HERE.

Plans for a National Watersports Campus for Dun Laoghaire Harbour is part of the scope of an extensive economic survey being conducted in the Dublin Bay town.

As Times.ie reports today, consultation on the future development Dun Laoghaire’s town and harbour may represent the “last real opportunity for public input”, Cllr Juliet O’Connell (Lab) says.

Three online surveys conducted by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council which have a deadline of Sunday (Feb 28) aim to gauge opinion on developments, including the national watersports campus.

Last year, the Government awarded €400,000 to the local authority to conduct a feasibility study on the watersports campus, which would be a marine version of the national sports campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Under Project 2040, the State’s national development plan, the Government set aside €100 million for sports infrastructure.

The National Sports Policy, published in 2018, established the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to provide exchequer support for sports facility projects.

Dun Laoghaire’s Carlisle pier has been proposed as a location and would involve a high-performance watersports coaching centre and a venue for national and international events.

It would also involve an education centre for schools, community groups and clubs, and a public slipway for recreational craft users who are not members of the harbour sailing clubs.

Currently, Dun Laoghaire has one public slipway in the Coal harbour which is not accessible at all stages of the tide.

If approved for planning, the campus would complement the Dun Laoghaire baths which are currently being refurbished by the local authority.

Loss of revenue since the cancellation of regular Irish Sea ferry sailings between Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead, a long with increased interest in watersports during the Covid-19 pandemic are factors influencing the local authority’s move.

The campus plan is being spearheaded by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Irish Sailing Association and has been endorsed by a number of Irish watersport national governing bodies, along with clubs and activity providers.

Details of the timeline for stage one of the project are due to be presented by sailing representative Paddy Boyd at an online public meeting at 7 pm tonight hosted on Facebook Live by Cllr O’Connell.

More on Times.ie here

The three surveys are available here