A €25m leisure center scheme and youth club project have been officially opened in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

Work on the Ballyfermot Leisure Centre commenced in October 2004, and was completed in June 2008. It was then handed over to Dublin City Council for fit-out.

Located on Blackditch Road, the 4,100 square meter centre offers a full range of swimming and fitness classes, and operates on a Pay As You Go basis.

The leisure centre comprises a six lane 25 meter pool with movable floor, a fully equipped gym, large aerobics studio, and 33 meter fully equipped sports hall for basketball, volleyball, badminton and indoor football.

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Six flood lit 5-a-side pitches, steam room and sauna, children's party area and facilities for community meetings, are also on offer in the centre.

All the facilities have been designed to caters for special needs, and will be managed to the highest audited standards (White Flag standard).

Adjacent to the new centre is The Base - a 1,100 square metre youth, community and childcare facility.

The Base - the Ballyfermot Youth Care Centre and Childcare Facility - will be managed and run separately to Dublin City Council.

The youth centre accommodation includes a performance space, crèche, health consultation and art rooms, recording studio, multi-media lab and a chill out space with a café.

Councillor Charlie Ardagh, representing the Lord Mayor, unveiled the finished projects today.

Total works for both facilities cost €25m, and were supported through funding from the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism, Department of Justice, the VEC, RAPID, Urban, the HSE and Pobal.

(PR/JM)