Austin Currie
Question:520 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the cost of Sports Campus Ireland to date; and the estimated cost of the project in 2002. [7588/02]
Written Answers. - National Sports Stadium.
To date €36,017,157 has been expended on Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland project, of which some €30 million has been spent on the aquatic and leisure centre which is currently under construction and is due for completion to host the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
A figure of €48,662,000, IR£38,324,439, has been provided in the Estimates for my Department for 2002 which includes provision for the construction costs in relation to the aquatic and leisure centre.
Following the completion of the overview of the Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland project conducted by independent consultants HighPoint Rendel, HPR, the Government has requested me to report on the implications of the HPR recommendations and options and in particular to evaluate: the viability of the existing tendering strategy as a basis for any modification of the stadium design and operation; the implications for the Exchequer of the options and recommendations; the issues raised in paragraph 1.7 of the report; I propose to circulate a copy of this with the official report.
I have initiated a process for the consideration of these issues. I will be drawing on a wide area of expertise and advice so that a thorough evaluation of the recommendations is made to ensure that Government is in a position to reach the best and most appropriate decision on the future of Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland. Until I have completed this evaluation and reported to Government it would be premature to make any statement on the future plans for this project or to speculate on the extent of any future expenditure on the project.