A spokesman for the Irish Sports Council said the centre would be home to the Paralympic Council and Community Games among others.

Facilities at the centre include head offices for 16 organisations along with meeting rooms, conference facilities and offices open to all sports bodies.

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue TD said: “The new facility is a testimony to the excellent working relationship between the Irish Sports Council and the national governing bodies.”

Mr O’Donoghue said at the official opening the centre would offer comprehensive and impressive facilities to develop sport.

“It is a physical symbol of the council’s commitment to sports organisations in Ireland,” he said.

“I can assure you that this Government is committed to sport and believes in the contribution it can make to our society, for individuals and for communities.”

Mr O’Donoghue continued: “All sports bodies have access to these facilities on a licence system and I encourage them all to utilise them. The more sports that become involved the greater the benefit that will accrue.

“Significant funding has been invested to ensure that SportHQ can become a centre for excellence in the administration of sport.”

The minister also said there had been a dramatic increase in funding for sport over the last six years.

He claimed that 2004 estimates showed funding of around €110m, €30m of which will go to the Sports Council, compared with only €13m in previous years.

Mr O’Donoghue also welcomed plans for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium and reaffirmed commitments to the Abbotstown sports campus.

He said: “I am very pleased that we are now proceeding, in co-operation with the IRFU and the FAI, with the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road which, when completed before the end of the decade, will meet the stadium requirements of two sports in which we can compete successfully at international level.

“In addition, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID) has been authorised to develop proposals for a sports campus at Abbotstown.”