Vol. 526 No. 2
14 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total estimated cost of the Campus and Stadium Ireland project at the latest date for which figures are available; if planning permission has been sought for the project; when construction will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25949/00]
16 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the up to date position regarding the national stadium. [26048/00]
19 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the up to date position regarding the provision of the national sports centre, Campus Ireland; the amount of money spent on the project to date; if he has had direct discussions with the GAA, FAI, the IRFU and BLE; if these organisations have given a written commitment that they will use the stadium for their major competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25981/00]
21 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on whether the estimated cost of £281 million for the stadium element of Campus Ireland represents good value, having regard to reports that Arsenal FC plans to construct a 60,000 all-seater stadium in central London at an estimated cost of around IR£130 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25951/00]
27 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total amount paid to date in consultancy fees arising from the Campus and Stadium Ireland project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25950/00]
38 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will elaborate on the most recent consultants report on the provision of a national stadium, including observations regarding viability in the absence of an anchor tenant, cost, including ancillary costs and the current situation regarding concrete commitments from existing sports bodies to using the facility on an annual basis. [25986/00]
41 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the organisations which have indicated that they will use the proposed national stadium as anchor tenants; and the contract that have been drawn up in this regard. [25976/00]
46 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will list the national sporting bodies he has met to discuss the proposed Campus and Stadium Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25953/00]
52 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the specific commitments received from the IRFU, the GAA and the FAI that they will avail of the proposed Stadium Ireland for matches; the number of matches each year in respect of which a commitment has been given by each of the associations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25952/00]
125 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress that has been made with the building of the national sports stadium, Campus Ireland; the time schedule of the likely development stages of Campus Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26203/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 16, 19, 21, 27, 38, 41, 46, 52 and 125 together.
I accompanied the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance at a briefing for the major national governing bodies of sport prior to the launch of the Campus Ireland project on 26 January last. All these organisations indicated their support for the project and I understand that Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited – CSID – is now having discussions with individual sporting organisations as to their requirements and the facilities that they would like provided on the site.
The positive response from the IRFU, the GAA and the FAI to the stadium proposal is outlined in the feasibility study which is available in the Oireachtas Library. As I already explained in response to another parliamentary question, the feasibility study outlined that a minimum base case of six events per year was required to make the stadium viable and CSID is having discussions with the national sporting organisations about the number of events that will take place in the stadium.
As I stated in answer to an earlier question, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited – CSID – estimate the cost of the development of the Campus Ireland project, including Stadium Ireland, at £281 million, and the other elements of the project to be £550 million. As I explained, the development is being undertaken on a design, build, finance, operate and maintain basis. CSID estimates that of the total cost of £550 million, the return related and fully funded private sector elements are in the region of £150 million. Taking account of the private donation of £50 million, the remaining public sector cost is estimated at £350 million. Regarding Deputy Rabbitte's question as to whether the stadium represents good value, this costing was prepared by the consultants who carried out the feasibility report and I do not propose to attempt to second guess the costing. As for Arsenal FC's plans, as the Deputy is no doubt aware, I have no function in this regard.
