Our Operations

The development of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus will play a key role in maximising the social and economic benefits of sport while sustainably protecting and enhancing our natural environment. Sport Ireland's ambition is to...

Develop the Campus as a showcase for sustainability for the sport sector. Demonstrating best practice and building effective collaborations.

Develop an active, biodiverse Campus for the community. Educating others on our biodiverse Campus. Using the Campus as a community resource, visited actively and sustainably.

Delivering on National Carbon Targets. Continued compliance with all the latest Government requirements on sustainability. Incorporating a wide range of lower carbon technologies and establishing embodied carbon targets in our future buildings. Striving for the highest levels of sustainability certification.

Campus Masterplan Vision

In 2022 the Sport Ireland Campus Masterplan Vision was unveiled, outlining an ambitious blueprint which proposes a vision and framework for the growth of the 520-acre Sport Ireland Campus and the long-term development of associated sporting facilities over the next 15-20 years.

The vision framework establishes five core values, one of which is sustainability. This core value will see Sport Ireland "develop a sustainable Campus that delivers Sport Ireland’s climate responsibilities."

It seeks to ensure that sustainability and climate resilience are embedded into every aspect of the planning, design, construction and operation of the Campus.

Velodrome

Sustainability Vision

Our sustainability vision is defined through six pillars which demonstrate our approach to sustainability:

Sustainability Pillars

Pillars

Energy

  • In pursuit of the Government's net zero carbon targets, work has been carried out to understand Sport Ireland’s carbon baseline and to establish required pathways to deliver on required reductions.
  • Work has been carried out to increase the energy efficiency, and the proportion of renewable energy on site for both new builds and retro-fits. We will also be incorporating a wide range of lower carbon technologies including Solar PV, Heats Pumps and the potential utilisation of a proposed District Heat Network in the Blanchardstown area. We are actively incorporating the potential for these into our Campus development and have already begun the process of conducting campus wide surveys and feasibility studies. 
  • The National Indoor Arena has been completely retrofitted with energy efficient LED lighting - to be followed by the Multi Sports Pitches and then The National Aquatic Centre - with rooms and corridors across the campus also fitted with PIR light detectors.

Water

  • We have been reducing water consumption across existing facilities and our new builds, showers have already been upgraded to water saving units.
  • Sustainable management of stormwater and wastewater has been introduced, with rainwater harvesting systems now in operation on the Campus. 
  • The competition pool plant room has been connected to the well system on Campus, with the aim of having 50% of the water needed for the Olympic pool coming via the wells.

Materials

  • We have been reducing the waste generated on Campus. Water fountains have been upgraded to reduce wastage and encourage people to use re-usable bottles. All bins in all buildings have been upgraded to dual use with 70/30 recycle/general waste compartments.
  • For new builds on Campus we will be seeking to increase the circularity of the materials used in construction.
  • Solar powered bins have been rolled out across the Campus to increase waste efficiency.

Mobility

  • Increasing sustainable, active modes of travel on Campus, such as the introduction of a bike service on Campus which is free to use for staff. As well as free bike repair stations on Campus.
  • Supporting the electrification of transport, the fleet of vans on Campus are being swapped out with an EV strategy being developed. This includes the upgrading of the fleet to EVs and also the installation of additional EV charging points on Campus.
  • Cyclists and walkers will be facilitated via a network of safe routes designed to connect into surrounding infrastructure such as the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and more local amenities such as the Tolka Valley Greenway to the south of the Campus. 
  • The masterplan intends on a new north–south transport corridor which is proposed to run through the centre of the site, enabling different modes of public transport. 

Biodiversity

  • We are increasing biodiversity on Campus by valuing, conserving and restoring our land and educating others who visit. 
  • There is the potential to plant a Tiny Forest on Campus as a biodiversity project aligning with the Campus masterplan. 
  • The Campus Masterplan vision seeks to move towards No Net Loss of biodiversity. The existing woodlands will be enhanced and new plantations of native tree species will be reintroduced across the entire site.  

Governance

  • Sport Ireland has integrated sustainability into all elements of its campus development, supported by the hiring of a dedicated sustainability manager.
  • Sport Ireland are raising awareness on sustainability across the organisation, as well as hosting internal education workshops. Sustainability was also a theme and the topic for one of the panel discussions at the 2023 Sport Ireland Annual Governance Conference which was open to all National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships.