Vol. 517 No. 2
10 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if the costs of the national stadium and sports campus identified in the report of the consultant included the cost of relocation of those agencies or offices already occupying the site; if not, the additional cost involved in relocating these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7016/00]
87 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the cost of moving the officials working in Abbotstown to a separate location to make way for the national stadium; and if all of these location costs are being included in the overall budget for the stadium. [6965/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 87 together.
I refer the Deputies to my reply to similar questions tabled by Deputies Owen and Currie on 16 February 2000. As I stated in my reply, the Government has decided that the laboratories and other facilities currently occupying the Abbotstown site should be relocated elsewhere. The State Laboratory and the other laboratories under the aegis of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development will be relocated to Backweston Farm which is located between Lucan and Celbridge. The Marine Institute is being relocated to Galway. The cost of relocating these facilities is estimated to be of the order of £90 million. The estimated cost is additional to the estimated cost of the proposed campus and Stadium Ireland. This estimate does not include the cost of relocating the farm at Abbotstown. This matter is being examined by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
I would also point out that the development of the facilities on the new sites will necessarily involve upgrading to bring them into line with best modern practice. Deputies will appreciate that high technology facilities of this kind are expensive and that, in the circumstances, the cost is unavoidable.
The Department of Finance has a justifiable reputation for being a careful public spending watchdog. Perhaps the Minister will tease out this issue with me. The stated cost of the stadium is £280 million at this stage, together with a further £20 million, give or take, for the provision of a swimming pool. The Minister outlined a further £90 million in regard to relocation costs. I am sure the Minister is aware of the observation made in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report that these costs tend to be understated and that, typically, the costs for the stadia which it studied tended to typically overrun by up to 70%. Would the Minister agree that an end figure in the region of £500 million would not be unreasonable and would he consider that to represent good value for money?
I want to record my total support for the concept of a national stadium. I am aware this matter has been dealt with primarily by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation but I have long held the view that Ireland needs and deserves a national stadium. I am sure Deputy Wall would concur with the value of good sporting facilities as he is very involved with the GAA. The time is right for Ireland to have a national stadium and the foresight of this Government will be remembered long after we have all left this House.
The costs which have been outlined are the current estimates and, as shown by the study to which the Deputy referred, it is often possible that these costs can be understated. A decision was made to build an 80,000 seat national stadium which I believe the Ireland of the 21st century needs and deserves.
My purpose in tabling the question was simply to try to get a handle on the probable cost of the stadium. Does the Minister agree that a figure in the region of £500 million is not an unreasonable estimate at this stage?
That is like asking me the cost of the road from Dublin to Mullingar. I can only outline the estimates which have been provided to me in regard to the costs. The estimated cost of the new stadium is of the order of £281 million. The relocation of the facilities currently located at Abbotstown is estimated to cost in the region of £90 million. We intend that those facilities, when relocated, will be as up-to-date as possible; there is no point in doing a patchwork job. At this point all of the estimates are preliminary. My colleague, Deputy Cullen, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, will progress these matters. Ireland deserves a national stadium and I support its provision.
When can we expect to see the first match being played in the stadium? Is there a timetable for the stadium's completion?
The expected completion date is 2005 although I do not know whether the first match will be played in that year.
