Vol. 498 No. 5
3 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the reason a person from his Department was appointed as secretary of the National Stadium Steering Committee; the length of time the secretary will devote to this task; the cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27567/98]
The work of the Department of the Taoiseach involves, to a significant extent, the initiation and co-ordination of strategic cross departmental initiatives and this is reflected in the Department's statement of strategy. The Department sees itself as working in partnership with other Departments, offices and agencies in carrying out this role. This necessitates close relationships and a high degree of cross departmental co-operation with them.
The announcement by the Government on 13 October that it had agreed to commission a feasibility study for the development of a stadium for the new century is an example of such an initiative. The concept for the stadium involves a design and quality that makes an inspirational statement about Ireland and the aspirations of its people as we enter the new century. The nature of this high prestige initiative is such that it will require cross departmental and cross organisational co-ordination and my Department is best placed to do that. As the Deputy knows, my Department is already taking a lead role in relation to the millennium, again reflecting the cross organisational nature of the approach.
There will be a significant time commitment involved and the official concerned has undertaken this task in addition to his normal duties. The question of any additional resources will be kept under review as the project proceeds. The commissioning of the feasibility study has commenced and will involve additional costs to my Department. To give any indication of these costs at this time would prejudice the tendering process.
Have sports grants to local clubs been suspended because money is being kept for the national stadium project?
No. The Deputy will be aware that the Vote for the capital programme and sports grants for 1999 shows a substantial increase.
Is the Taoiseach aware that a review group on local sports grants has been set up in parallel with the national stadium review group, thereby resulting in some duplication, and that pending the report of that review group, no local clubs are receiving grants and that this has been the case for quite some time? Is the money being denied to local clubs so that it can be put together for some mega project of interest to individuals?
There is no truth in the suggestion being made by the Deputy.
The Taoiseach referred to the statement made on 13 October which was accompanied by an assertion that a promise of a substantial sum of money had been made by a number of private Irish individuals. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether that promise or offer of money was verbal or made in writing?
In that statement I acknowledged the generous offer of support from a named individual and said I looked forward to receiving support from other individuals and organisations. I do not know if the individual has put his support in writing, but he has stated it to the Department of Finance and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
Do I take it the committee has been established and staff resources allocated on foot of a verbal promise of £50 million, and that no confirmation of that offer in writing has been received by the Department of the Taoiseach?
The commitment given to the Departments of Finance, Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Taoiseach is quite solid. It has been made verbally — I do not know if there is a written commitment. Either way, the committee is looking at the feasibility of Ireland building such a stadium. If the Deputy is asking whether there is a doubt because the commitment is not in writing, I can assure him there is none.
The commitment is not in writing.
I have not seen a written letter and I do not know if this was requested.
Will the Taoiseach return to the House to say whether the commitment is in writing?
Yes.
How can the Taoiseach reconcile the fact that he has suspended a capital grants scheme under which there were 1,400 applications, totalling £50 million for projects worth approximately £480 million? He has frozen out those projects while at the same time he is looking at a super stadium involving perhaps only three interests. How can he reconcile the offer of £20 million to the GAA for Croke Park without examining the feasibility of using Croke Park as a multi-functional stadium, acknowledging at the same time the rights of the GAA to make decisions about its own property? Has he asked the GAA to bite the bullet and consider using Croke Park as a multi-functional stadium, taking into consideration that £20 million has been given to it this year while not a penny has gone to organisations throughout the country?
The issue concerning Croke Park is widening the scope of the question.
The country badly needs a proper, state of the art, multi-purpose national stadium. I do not consider that Croke Park, even on completion of its development, will fit the bill.
