Dublin city councillors last night gave the go ahead for a white-water rafting and Olympic canoe centre in the north inner city.
That's despite a cost increase of around ten million euro since it was first proposed, from €12 million to over €22 million.
Part of the reason for the rise in costs is the addition of a water treatment plant to the plans.
City councillors spent over an hour debating whether to give it the green light at a meeting last night. In the end they voted in favour of the proposal, 37 to 19.
The facility will be built at George's Dock in the IFSC and the plan is for it to be used by sports clubs, tourists, locals as well as the Dublin Fire Brigade for training.
Opposition
Some public representatives said the site would be better used as an outdoor swimming baths and the focus on kayaking is too narrow.
Fianna Fáil's Mary Fitzpatrick says she wants to be assured local children will have access;
"So that kids will have an alternative to jumping off the top of a building on this side of the docks, down in the Liffey. They'll actually be able to go into what is a city council purpose-built, thrilling experience."
Training
Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Dublin Fire Brigade, Greg O'Dwyer, told councillors that the facility will allow members of the emergency services to train safely.
He said they had to stop carrying out water rescue training on the upper part of the River Liffey because people became ill on training courses.
The project includes a swift water rescue centre with a floodable urban street and mock enclosures, that will form a ‘rescue village’.
The centre is expected to attract at least 36,000 visitors a year.
