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Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaking at the opening today

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, together with Minister Leo Varadkar  today officially opened the Irish Sport HQ at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.

The Taoiseach said:

Ireland is a country that is passionate about sport and it is fitting that where possible we should have world class facilities to support, encourage and inspire everyone to get involved in sport. This Government has put a renewed focus on supporting sporting activities nationwide and I'm delighted that significant progress has been made in the development of the National Sport Campus over the past 12 months. The opening of the Irish Sport HQ and the arrival of 19 national governing bodies is a major step in the development of the Campus. Today's milestone will also help foster the sense of community and cooperation which I know already exists in Irish sport.

Minister Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Sean Benton, Chairman of the National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA) and Barry O'Brien, CEO of the NSCDA

Among the 19 Governing Bodies who have moved into the National Sports Campus are:

• The Camogie Association
• Paralympics  Ireland
• Irish Judo Association
• Gaelic Athletic Association
• Canoeing Ireland
• Swim Ireland

Work is currently underway on the Multi-Sport Pitches and Sport Pavilion and the planned High Performance facilities for Horse Sport Ireland and Pentathlon Ireland are scheduled for completion in August.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaking with professional badminton player Chloe Magee at the opening today

Minister Leo Varadkar said:

When I was appointed Minister I developed a new vision for the National Sports Campus. We decided there wasn’t going to be any new stadium. Instead, we made lands and facilities available and invited the governing bodies to develop them.

The Campus is one of my four main sporting priorities, alongside the re-launch of the Sports Capital Programme, protecting funding for sport through the Sports Council, and promoting sport as an exam subject in schools. We have seen huge developments, and I’m delighted to be here today for the opening of Sport HQ.