Annual Report 2005 - The Office of Public Works

Development Ltd., (LRSDC) to procure the redevelopment and LRSDC appointed Project
Management/Design Teams etc., for the Project in 2005. This Unit has liaised closely with
LRSDC and DAST on all matters relating to the procurement of Design and Project
Management services in that connection e.g., documentation, attendance at interviews and
evaluation of Consultants’ submissions. Planning Application documentation was virtually
completed by LRSDC by end 2005. Special Projects Unit continued to advise DAST throughout
the year regarding the various procurement options being considered.
As part of its Decision to support the redevelopment of Landsdowne Road, the Government
also committed itself, as financial resources permit, to the development of a Sports Campus at
Abbotstown. The Campus is to include medical, research and training support for élite athlete
development plus administrative facilities for the smaller sports bodies, in addition to a range
of other facilities including pitches and training grounds. The Campus at Abbotstown is to be
procured by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd., (CSID) whose Development
Control Plan (DCP) for the entire site was approved by Government in November 2005. This
DCP proposes that the sports facilities be developed in 2 Phases; Phase 1 to include dedicated
facilities for training and competition for targeted high performance sports, facilities for
staging major events, a world-class sports science and medicine facility and a quality location
for Ireland’s sporting organisations and agencies with Phase 2 to include NGB
accommodation/office facilities within some of the refurbished existing buildings etc. The Total
Budget for Phase 1 is some E120m. CSID envisage that the Facility will be financed by a
combination of Government Grants, Capital Contributions from NGB’s, Fingal County Council
and the Sale/Lease of surplus land. SPU contributed to various aspects of the DCP. SPU’s role
in relation to the Project is to act as Technical Advisors to DAST/CSID.
SPU currently provides advice on Projects carried out as part of DAST's Sports Capital
Programme, where a Grant in excess of E150,000, for a particular development, has been
approved. The service provided, which includes offering advice on works carried out on many
GAA and FAI grounds (including Eircom League grounds), Swimming Pools etc., is, essentially,
the examination of documentation to ensure that the works being Grant-aided meet all
Statutory requirements under the Planning Acts, Building Control Act (Fire Safety) and Safety,
Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations etc. This examination is, generally,
followed by an assessment of the Tender Report from the Grantee's Architect and if SPU is
satisfied that all necessary requirements have been complied with, a recommendation, to
DAST, to enable the Grantee place the contract with the successful Tenderer. SPU
subsequently examines and certifies, to DAST, all claims for payment of instalments of the
Grant. SPU does not inspect the building works from a quality, Health & Safety or any such
perspective, as these are the responsibility of the Grantee (Sports Club), its Design Team and
Contractor.
Decentralisation Programme
Project Management Services made considerable progress in implementing the Government's
Decentralisation Programme during 2005. In excess of 40 Department/Agency projects are
either at Project Development stage or have reached Tender stage, including all 8 proposed
Headquarter buildings. A further two projects are in progress, ie. on site.
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