Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan says the addition of a new velodrome and badminton facility at the Sport Ireland Complex is just another step on the way to further growing the infrastructure at Abbotstown.
Wednesday saw the turning of the first sod in a development that will cost over €100m. The aim is for the facility to contribute to the success of high performance programmes and to increase participation in both sports.
Ireland has shone in track cycling in recent years, with Lara Gillespie's gold medal in the elimination race at the Track World Championships in Chile among the achievements.
Minister O'Donovan was present at the Blanchardstown venue for an event that marked the start of construction and, speaking to RTÉ Sport, he singled out the importance of having the additional facility in Abbotstown.
"It's a long time in gestation and it's a long time being spoken about but it is great to see ground finally being broken on what is an immensely important piece of national sporting infrastructure," he said.
"This new velodrome and badminton centre is costing the government over €100m but it really complements the existing infrastructure that is based here in Abbotstown.
"It's a fantastic day not just for the two sports themselves but for all of the other sports that are hoping to see further improvements here."
On that plan to further boost facilities at the Sport Ireland complex, Minister O'Donovan spoke about a vision that is already in place, when adding: "It [new facility] aligns with our Olympic strategies and our national sports policy which is up for renewal shortly.
"And it shows that if you invest in capital ,which we have done here in Abbotstown and around the country over the last number of years through sports capital and large scale sporting infrastructure funds, then you can reap rewards.
"The last Olympics was our best ever so if we continue to invest in human capital and in the built environment, there is no doubt about it that the future will be very bright for Irish sport."
Looking ahead, a national cricket centre will be built under two phases, with work beginning from 2027.
The cricket centre will provide a permanent home for Irish international cricket that meets International Cricket Council requirements and is in line with international best practice.
A national hockey centre is earmarked to be progressed from 2028.
Other projects include accommodation for athletes, as well as a Sport Ireland institute and maintenance of existing facilities on the campus.
O'Donovan also mentioned the regions, with the goal of having "regional stadia, swimming pools and running tracks all over the country".
Also present at today's event was Sport Ireland chief executive Dr Úna May, who highlighted the high-tech nature of the new development.
She said: "The Sport Ireland campus is growing and developing at a rate of noughts which is something that we are so proud of, and proud for the individual sports. The track at the cutting edge of high performance sport and innovation.
"The fact that the track is raised to the first floor is an innovation which allows us to use the in-field for badminton primarily but also for other events to take advantage of that in-field."
