Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2004
22 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to discussions, negotiations or consultations he has had with the representatives of the various sporting bodies in regard to the national stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/04]
View answer24 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made to date with regard to the Lansdowne Road stadium refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19709/04]
View answer32 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the formal grant agreement between his Department and the IRFU and the FAI for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road has been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19730/04]
View answer37 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the latest contact he has had or report he has received from the Lansdowne stadium project steering group, constituted to co-ordinate the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19729/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 24, 32 and 37 together.
The Government decided on 27 January 2004 to provide financial support for a joint IRFU-FAI project to redevelop Lansdowne Road stadium. I arranged for the establishment of a project steering group to oversee its delivery by the two sporting bodies. Since then, my Department has been working with the IRFU and the FAI within the forum of the steering group and bilaterally to ensure implementation of the decision.
The Lansdowne stadium project steering group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and comprises representatives from the Department, the Office of Public Works, the IRFU and the FAI. It has held six meetings. There is regular contact between the parties involved to ensure that all aspects of the project are progressing smoothly. A priority for the steering group is to ensure that all the legal, financial, planning and procurement requirements are met in an efficient and timely manner so that actual construction work can get under way by the target date of July 2006. The chairman of the steering group reports regularly to me on the group's deliberations.
The IRFU and FAI have reached agreement on formation of a special purpose vehicle under the Companies Act to deliver the project and the legal formalities to give effect to this are nearing completion. A project manager has been selected. The text of a formal grant agreement between my Department, on the one hand, and the IRFU and FAI, on the other, is being finalised and will soon be ready for signature.
