Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., at the official opening of Commons Street All Weather Football Pitch on Monday, 11th February, 2008 at 2.30pm

Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., at the official opening of Commons Street All Weather Football Pitch on Monday, 11th February, 2008 at 2.30pm

I am delighted to be here this afternoon, together with the Deputy Lord Mayor, to officially open the Commons Street All Weather Football Pitch. I would like to thank Dublin City Council for their kind invitation.

It was only last October that I had the pleasure of opening a state-of-the-art playground and all weather pitch for the residents of Hardwicke Street.  So I am glad to see that the residents here in Commons Street have not been forgotten!

This €240,000 redevelopment project involved the installation of a new all weather playing surface, in place of the old tarmac pitch, along with the provision of floodlighting.  I want to thank Dublin City Council for their excellent work on this project.   I know the management of the development is in the capable hands of the Parks Department and the Community Development Section of Dublin City Council.  It is very much a community project, with a management committee made up of representatives of local teams and groups.

This all weather pitch is a very welcome development for the Commons Street area and is, naturally, a major attraction for young people.  It is already getting great use by several clubs, groups and schools.       

The funding for this development came from a variety of sources - the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism; the RAPID Top Up programme, run by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Dublin City Council; and Dublin Docklands Development Authority. It is money very well spent.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of exercise and healthy living.   The World Health Organisation has described obesity as a “global epidemic”.  And in light of recent growing levels of obesity here in Ireland, especially among our young people, it is vital that we continue to develop opportunities for young people to get involved in sport. 

Developments such as this are an excellent way of encouraging children to take up sport.  Naturally, the earlier they start, the better.  The benefits are lifelong and varied and can never be underestimated.

I am glad to see that this is one of a number of projects that Dublin City Council are currently embarking on.  I want to commend them for their excellent work in upgrading several sporting facilities around the city.   I know that some other current projects underway include the development of a new youth and community centre in Ballybough, together with the upgrading of the Broadstone Park football pitch and playground areas.  It is envisaged that these will be up and running by the middle of this year and I have no doubt they too will attract many more young into sporting activities.

The Government fully appreciate the key role that sport plays in the development of young people and in society generally and my colleague, Seamus Brennan, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, announced an allocation of €336 million to sport for 2008.

Through the Sports Capital Programme, the Government has been able to financially assist over 6,000 projects around the country with funding of over €675 million since 1998.  Last year, we allocated €85 million to 935 projects under this Programme.  The Government's commitment to sport was further emphasised by the publication of the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013, which includes a commitment to provide €991 million for sporting infrastructure over this period under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

It now only remains for me to congratulate everyone involved in this fine development and to wish the residents of Commons Street and all the users of this new pitch every success.  I hope you get many hours of enjoyment from this excellent facility, which I can now declare officially open!

Thank you.

ENDS.