Sports Capital Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004

Tuesday, 22 June 2004

Questions (184)

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

175 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on his contacts with a football club (details supplied) in respect of the unfinished stadium at Tallaght, Dublin 24; if his attention has been drawn to the serious anxiety of the local community in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18467/04]

Written answers

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

Through the sports capital programme administered by my Department over €320 million has been allocated in funding since 1997 in respect of over 4,200 projects. These have involved sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country assisting in the provision of sport and recreational facilities. Under this programme, grants totalling €2.57 million were allocated towards the development of a new stadium in Tallaght for Shamrock Rovers Football Club in each of the three years 2000, 2001 and 2002. These allocations were made following an application from the club and a recommendation from the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, that such funding should be provided to enable one of Dublin's oldest clubs to have its own facilities.

While responsibility for the delivery of this project rests with the club, my Department has written directly to the club on a number of occasions since the last grant payment was made in May 2002 requesting information on its likely completion date. In October 2002, the club advised my Department that costs on the project had risen considerably and they were in discussions with a number of interested parties in an effort to secure additional funding to complete it. The importance of completing the stadium has been raised at a number of meetings between my Department and the FAI. On 26 March 2004, the club informed my Department of further ongoing discussions with interested parties which could lead to a proposal to complete the stadium. My Department is in contact with the FAI to investigate how this matter can be progressed to a satisfactory conclusion.