Vol. 533 No. 3
177 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to his Department in relation to demolition and site clearance at Abbotstown, Dublin 15, for Sports Campus Ireland; the estimated relocation cost of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development laboratories and the Marine Institute; the position regarding these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9067/01]
The Campus of Sporting Excellence at Abbotstown is being provided through a design, build, finance, operate and maintain method of procurement. In this regard, expressions of interest were received by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited from interested parties on 8 January 2001 and on the basis of these expressions of interest a number of proponents have been selected from which outline bids will be sought shortly. Until these bids have been received and assessed it will not be possible to quantify the cost of different elements of the project. Any Exchequer expenditure on the provision of the campus will be met by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
The estimated cost of relocating the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development laboratories and the State Laboratory from Abbotstown to Backweston is £157 million. The cost reflects the necessity to provide modern state-of-the-art facilities which would be of a standard comparable to the best laboratory facilities in the EU, US, etc. and would be capable of achieving international acceptance and accreditation. The laboratories concerned are to the forefront in the battle to ensure food safety and to allay consumers' fears on food quality and standards. The relocation of the Marine Institute to Galway is estimated to cost £31 million. Both estimates of cost include construction costs, design team fees, VAT, inflation etc. Planning permission has been sought for the relocation of the laboratories to Backweston. Planning for the relocation of the Marine Institute to Galway is proceeding.
