The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Irish Hockey Association have agreed to develop their own facilities at the site.

Work on access roads and infrastructure is to begin in September and will be completed by the end of the year while the budget for the work is spread over four years.

"This marks a new beginning for the National Sports Campus and I am delighted that these four sporting organisations have come on board under this new plan – the Development Through Partnership plan," said Ireland's Sports Minister Leo Varadkar. 

"All four bodies have agreed in principle to develop their sections of the Campus.

"For its part, the Government has allocated funding to develop the vital access route and provide serviced infrastructure this year."

It is the latest ambitious project launched by Ireland, which is still haunted by proposed Government built sports stadium in Abbotstown, Dublin, Ireland.

It was called "the Bertie Bowl" due to its close association with the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who wanted a 65,000-capacity national stadium capable of hosting major events.

Plans to develop the NSC have also been hit by the worldwide economic crisis which has hit Ireland particularly hard.

"The Bertie Bowl is no more, but the National Sports Campus lives on," said Varadkar.

"The FAI, the National Aquatic Centre and the Irish Institute of Sport are already on site.

"The new Irish Sport HQ will provide a home for around 19 other sporting organisations.

"This marks a new beginning for the National Sports Campus and I am delighted that these four sporting organisations have come on board under this new plan.

"Despite the current economic situation the Government, the NSCDA and the sporting organisations have worked together to drive this exciting project forward.

"I expect to see good progress being made over the next 12 months."

Sean Benton, speaking on behalf of the National Sports Campus Develpment Authority (NSCDA) added: "We are totally committed to the creation of a world-class facility which will provide our sportsmen and sportswomen with the facilities which they deserve as they continue to do us all proud."

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