Vol. 577 No. 5
14 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a successful application by the IRFU regarding the re-development of Lansdowne Road and a change of mind by the GAA regarding the usage of Croke Park for other sports would mean the end of Government plans to develop a stadium at Abbotstown or other location. [31630/03]
16 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the outcome of his latest negotiations or discussions with sporting organisations with a view to reaching agreement in relation to a national stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31638/03]
20 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the discussions taking place with the GAA with a view to reaching agreement on an arrangement for making available Croke Park for a limited number of occasions each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31443/03]
26 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when a decision is likely regarding Government support for the IRFU's stadium proposal. [31626/03]
29 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when a final decision will be made on proposals for a national stadium, especially in view of the need for the FAI to be able to make plans for Ireland's games in the qualifying round of World Cup 2006; if he expects a national stadium to be available for those games; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31553/03]
115 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the proposed national sports stadium. [31845/03]
118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has recently met with all of the sporting bodies interested in the outcome of the debate on the issue of a national stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31873/03]
120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he expects to finalise the debate in relation to the provision of a national stadium; if he expects to reach a conclusion in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31875/03]
121 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to the provision of a national stadium, with particular reference to the state of negotiations between his Department and the various interested sporting bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31876/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 16, 20, 26, 29, 115, 118, 120 and 121 together.
This Government has over the past five years committed about €260 million to support investment in sporting facilities at local, regional and national levels. By doing so it has enabled the creation of a sporting infrastructure which has revitalised communities throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. I have at all times acknowledged that there is also a need to address the significant gap which exists at present in the availability of modern stadium accommodation to house major international sporting events.
I pay tribute to the vision, imagination and energy of the GAA in delivering the world-class 80,000 capacity stadium at Croke Park which is a source of such pride to us all. Nevertheless, all of the major sporting bodies – GAA, FAI and IRFU – acknowledge that there is also a need for a second modern stadium in Dublin. This is a point of view with which I am in full agreement.
As I have indicated to the House on previous occasions the question of how to deliver modern sports stadium facilities continues to be the subject of very active dialogue between myself and the sports bodies mainly concerned, the FAI, IRFU and the GAA.
I have at all times made it clear in my discussions with these agencies that my preference was for the development of a national stadium at a greenfield site at Abbotstown. Deputies will understand, therefore, that it was a matter of real regret to me that in September 2002, the Government found it necessary in the prevailing budgetary circumstances to say that it was no longer in a position to commit Exchequer support on the scale required for the realisation of the national stadium project. In those circumstances and with the approval of the Government, I set about exploring the potential for securing private sector investment in place of Exchequer resources for this project. My initial enquiries established that while there is considerable interest among private investors in entering into partnership for this project, the terms on which such a project could be realised were likely to present difficulties for some or all of the parties involved.
In my consultations with the sporting bodies I sought to establish where their preferences lay. In response to my invitation to the IRFU and the FAI to set out their priorities, these organisations jointly commissioned Arup Consultants to draw up prioritised proposals. I received Office of Public Works's comprehensive analysis of the Arup report in mid September. Since then, I have had further discussions and consultations with interested parties and obtained further information in regard to development options for Lansdowne Road at a meeting in my office on 16 December with FAI and IRFU representatives.
Taking account of the issues highlighted in the various reports, the outcome of my discussions with the sporting bodies, the outcome of the analysis of the responses to the initiative to secure privately funded facilities and having regard for the likely demand on the Exchequer to fund such a facility, it is my intention to bring to the Government at an early date the various options for meeting the stadium needs of the organisations. It would clearly be inappropriate for me at this stage to anticipate what the Government may eventually decide.
With regard to the availability of Croke Park I wish to refer the Deputy to the position which I articulated earlier today in response to Priority Question No. 1. I have not entered into negotiations with the GAA with a view to having Croke Park made available to house other major sporting fixtures.
Question No. 15 answered with Question No. 12.
Question No. 16 answered with Question No. 14.
