Eamon Gilmore
Question:65 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the Government's policy on the provision of a national stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17181/97]
Written Answers. - National Sports Stadium.
The Government, in its joint document, An Action Programme for the Millennium, has signalled its interest in pursuing a joint venture route in terms of the provision of national and regional sports facilities generally. At present, there are no firm proposals before my Department for the development of a national outdoor sports stadium.
I am hopeful that imaginative proposals will emerge but I must stress that, while the Government and I will be as receptive and as positive as we can, the initiative must come, in the first instance, from interested commercial and/or sporting interests. Any such initiatives will, of course, have to demonstrate a real commitment to joint venture principles and be both feasible and commercially viable, before the Government could be expected to take a serious interest in them.