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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Sports Stadium.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

255 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if a large part of the motivation behind the Abbotstown sports campus is the provision of a home venue for a Dublin United soccer team in a new European league; if the public funds used in the construction of such a stadium will be reimbursed by the private owners of a new soccer team; if such a proposal is being included and assessed in a report by consultants (details supplied); and when this report will be available to the public. [31778/01]

Following on the completion of a feasibility study, "A Stadium for the New Century", carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers and acting on the advice of a steering committee which oversaw the study, the Government decided to proceed with the Sports Campus Ireland project, motivated by a desire to provide a campus of sporting excellence which would cater for the sporting needs of both the elite athlete and the more modest performer in a variety of the main sporting activities enjoyed by Irish people.

The terms of reference for the independent overview of the cost of the Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland project, completed this year, did not require the consultants to comment on the possible use of Sports Campus Ireland as a home venue for a soccer team in a new European League as no such proposal has ever been put forward for consideration.

The cost overview has now been completed and the final report has been presented to the steering group of senior officials appointed by Government to oversee the work and formally accepted by them on 14 November 2001. I have received the final report from the steering group with their advice and 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.

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