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13th Jun 2022

Dublin Airport responds to “unhelpful misinformation” about neighbouring sports complex

Hugh Carr

The airport accused ALSAA of attempting to “misrepresent the very positive objectives” of their process.

Dublin Airport has accused a neighbouring sports complex of spreading “unhelpful misinformation” as they look to support staff during the busy summer period.

ALSAA, an on-campus fitness facility, said that daa (Dublin Airport Authority) requested that the premises be vacated.

“DAA want @ALSAAOfficial to vacate its premises and hand over its facilities to them,” the organisation tweeted on Sunday night (12 June).

“The potential impact to hundreds of clubs and thousands of members and nearly 100 staff is catastrophic #savealsaafromdaa”

Dublin Airport responded to the tweets with a statement on Monday morning (13 June).

“Dublin Airport is currently requesting proposals of interest for its on-campus fitness facilities to ensure they are fit for purpose to meet the needs of over twenty thousand staff working at Dublin Airport and also the evolving needs of the surrounding community,” the statement read.

“The current operator, ALSAA, has also been invited and encouraged to participate in this process of submitting a plan that will provide necessary capital improvements to the facilities whilst providing a sustainable proposition to its members and the community.

“Regardless of who the successful party is in that process, campus sporting and recreational facilities will remain accessible to members and local sporting clubs and community organisations.”

According to Dublin Airport, ALSAA’s license agreement to host sporting and recreational facilities at the airport expired, declining an extension for May and June, which in accordance with their agreement, means they must leave the complex.

“Daa is totally committed to ensuring investment in and continued use of its sporting and recreation facilities at Dublin Airport and it is disappointed at efforts to misrepresent the very positive objectives of this process which will benefit staff, and sporting and educational neighbours of Dublin Airport,” the airport continued.

“As owners of the complex, daa needs to take account of all stakeholders and cannot put the interests of a current tenant operator above those of existing and new users of its sporting and recreational facilities.”

Dublin Airport have since withdrawn their request for ALSAA to vacate the building, allowing them to use the centre for another year.

“ALSAA will continue discussions and negotiations for the next 12 months in order to secure ALSAA’s future,” the organisation said.

“Thank you to you all for your continued support, we really appreciate it.”

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