Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Stadium.

Austin Currie

Question:

313 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to a proposal to build a national stadium at Abbotstown, County Dublin, where his Department has a number of laboratories including the State Laboratory, the pesticides and seed control laboratory and the meat control laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19603/99]

Austin Currie

Question:

316 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has for a national stadium at Abbotstown, County Dublin; if so, if the effect on the local community of an 80,000 seater stadium has been taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19605/99]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 316 together.

The Government announced on 13 October 1998 that it had agreed to commission a feasibility study for the development of a national stadium and to the establishment of a stadium steering committee to conduct the feasibility study and to make recommendations based on the findings of the study. The steering committee is chaired by Mr. Dermot Keogh and includes representatives from major sporting organisations, including the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU, as well as representatives from the private sector and a number of Government Departments.

A consortium of consultants led by PricewaterhouseCoopers was appointed to conduct the feasibility study. The study examined a range of issues relevant to the feasibility of developing and operating an 80,000 seat stadium, including the economic, social and other benefits that can be expected to be derived, analysed potential demand for use of the facilities from various sporting, entertainment and other commercial categories and possible locations for the stadium.

The feasibility study has recently been completed and has been presented to the stadium steering committee. It will be brought to Government for consideration and decision at an early date. I do not wish to pre-empt the findings of the feasibility study but I can assure the Deputy that the Government will take all relevant matters into account in reaching a decision on the project, including issues relating to the siting of the stadium.