Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Sports Stadium.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

168 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in relation to the national stadium; the extent of the moneys spent to date in connection with the project, including consultancy fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22954/02]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Deputy will be aware that in September last the Government decided not to allocate Exchequer funding to provide a national stadium. The Government also decided to explore the potential to provide a national stadium with private sector involvement and accordingly an advertisement was placed in the national newspapers, some international journals and on the Government contracts website, seeking expressions of interest. In response to this request for expressions of interest 23 companies or consortia have indicated an interest and a variety of interesting proposals have been put forward. Examination of these proposals is ongoing.

Over the past three years, 2000, 2001 and 2002 (to date), €72.1 million expenditure has been incurred by the Exchequer on the Sports Campus Ireland project. Of this amount, a sum of €60.7 million relates directly to the construction of the aquatic and leisure centre; €8.4 million relates to administrative and ongoing running costs of the company, including consultancy costs, executive services, project management and VAT payments, most of which is related to the aquatic and leisure centre. The balance of €3 million relates to planning, site survey work and general prep aration and development of the entire campus site.