Trevor Sargent
Question:97 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will report on progress with the proposed Sports Campus Ireland. [24212/01]
Written Answers. - National Sports Stadium.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:111 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the proposed national stadium; the projected costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28042/01]
Derek McDowell
Question:124 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total number of tenders received for the construction of Sport/Campus Ireland; the firms or groups from whom the tenders have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27890/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 111 and 124 together.
I have advised the House previously that Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, estimate the cost of Sports Campus Ireland, including estimates in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report, A Stadium for the New Century, to be £550 million, of which some £350 million would be provided by the Exchequer.
As I indicated in reply to previous questions, the independent consultants, High-Point Rendel, have completed the overview of the cost of the Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland project, and their report has been presented to the steering group of senior officials appointed by Government to oversee the work. As soon as I receive the final report from the steering group with their advice, I intend submitting it to Government for its consideration. I have already indicated to the House that until the report has been considered by Government, I do not intend to make any statement on its contents.
Meanwhile, as I indicated in reply to another question today, terms of agreement for the pool at Abbotstown are currently at the stage of final negotiations while work has already begun on site under a letter of intent in order to have the pool completed in time for the Special Olympics in 2003. I am informed by CSID that the pool is currently on target for completion by end 2002.
The closing date for the receipt of outline bids for the stadium and other sporting facilities at Sports Campus Ireland was 21 June last. According to an announcement by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, five bidders have indicated that they will be participants in the bidding process for the construction of these facilities. The outline bid phase is still under way. In any event, no decision will be made on any of these bids until the Government has considered the report of the consultants on the cost overview.