Senator calls for support for 'world-class' athletics track in north Mayo

The campaign to develop a 'world-class' athletics track in north Mayo was raised in the Seanad with calls for the Government to invest in proper facilities in the area.

Erris Athletics Club are currently seeking to develop a running track in Belmullet with a site identified betwen the Irish Wheelchair Association's facilities and St Brendan's College secondary school.

Ballina-based Fine Gael Senator Mark Duffy raised the need for new athletics facilities in Erris during the Order of Business in Seanad Éireann on Tuesday.

Senator Duffy told the upper house of the Oireachtas that he recently visited Erris Athletics Club and revealed that the club has more than 250 members with 198 members under the age of 14 and they have to travel 90 km to access standard and adequate sporting facilities.

“They have to travel for more than an hour to access adequate athletic facilities. The Erris area is neglected in respect of sporting infrastructure and almost 2,000 people in Erris are registered with disabilities,” he said.

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“It is desperately needed from a public health and mental health point of view. I ask that the Minister for sport be invited to the Seanad to discuss the opportunity that exists for the State to invest in proper standards and facilities for an area that is sparsely populated but has huge demand for sporting infrastructure. It is often a forgotten area.

“I ask that we invite the Minister for sport to a discussion on this, that a world-class athletics track be delivered and that we support the Belmullet community in delivering it,” he said.

Senator Duffy complimented Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle for his work on the issue and that he will be 'working to support to deliver this infrastructure for Belmullet'.

Leader of the Seanad, Senator Seán Kyne from Galway suggested that the Erris Athletics Club apply for sports capital funding if it has not already done so. He said it is something which they will raise with the Minister of State for Sport, Charlie McConalogue when they invite him to address the Seanad.