Massive €7.5m funding for new TUS sports arena

A huge funding allocation of €7.5 million has been announced for the North Arena sports campus on the Clare/Limerick border.

The arena is to be built on the Technological University of the Shannon’s Coonagh Campus and will be a multi-purpose, multi-sport floored area with fixed spectator seating. 

The project will lead to the development of an 8,000 sq/m arena incorporating an indoor velodrome and facilities for various sports including basketball, badminton, volleyball and tennis as well as use cases such as exams and events.

TUS and Cycling Ireland welcomed the announcement made by Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne made the announcement under the nationwide total of €173 million in grants to 35 projects across Ireland under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund.

This is a record allocation under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund following on from the record funding already announced under the Community Sport Facilities Fund. 

A number of sporting disciplines will benefit under this round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, including football; Gaelic games; athletics; basketball; rugby; hockey; swimming and water-based sports; cricket; and cycling.

All applications submitted under the LSSIF Fund were required to have the prioritised endorsement of a National Governing Body for Sport (NGB) or a Local Authority. This prioritisation was one of a number of factors taken into account in the assessment and ultimate ranking of projects.

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It was informed by factors such as the potential to enhance sports participation, sustainability, similar access for both men and women, and the ability to execute the project within a specified timeframe.
Projects allocated LSSIF funding will now proceed to further evaluation and due diligence processes, which will vary in extent and nature based on the size and specifics of each project.

A new “use it or lose it” clause has been introduced which will ensure that if there has been no drawdown of any part of a grant within two or three years, or before a new LSSIF round is announced, the grant offer will be deemed withdrawn.

In relation to the LSSIF applications which have not received an allocation, the Department will publish a reserve list in the coming period on which all valid applications will be placed and assessed. When additional LSSIF funding becomes available, it is envisaged that projects on the reserve list can then be funded.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, said: “The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund plays a crucial role in our strategy to enhance physical activity and well-being among the population. By investing in these significant projects, we are ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or ability, has access to high-quality sports facilities."

Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of TUS, welcomed the funding confirmation: “This is a major funding announcement for a project of international and national standing and of major significance for the Midwest region. City North Arena will be of direct benefit to Limerick."

Vice President of Campus Services and Capital Development at TUS, Jimmy Browne, said: “We want to continue providing high quality facilities to help increase participation in sport, as well as providing quality facilities for the region in line with our Campus Masterplan. This will form the first part of our broader City North Sports Park at Coonagh."

Minister Byrne also added that: “This funding underscores our commitment as a Government to seeing sport prosper in communities across Ireland".

"The major sports projects funded under this round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund encompass a wide variety of sports and activities, reflecting the varied sporting interests of communities nationwide."

Read more Sports stories at Clare Live