Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2009
101 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans for the development of a sports campus in view of the recently granted planning permission to the National Sports Campus Development Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37453/09]
View answerAs the Minister has previously stated in response to recent questions on the overall development of the national sports campus project, he is currently engaged in discussions with the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA, as to how we might best advance matters in the medium term taking into consideration the current difficult economic constraints. Notwithstanding these constraints, I am pleased to report that planning permission has recently been obtained for phase one of the National Sports Campus. As the Deputy will be aware, the planning permission includes provision for a multi-sport national indoor training centre to provide world class facilities for more than 20 sports; sports science and medical facilities; accommodation for sportsmen and women; all-weather synthetic pitches for community recreational access; and a national field sports training centre catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey.
Meanwhile, refurbishment work on the former central meat control laboratory has recently been completed and this will provide a headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport. The provision of further funding for the National Sports Campus project is now being considered as part of the Estimates process for 2010.
The budget this year for the National Sports Campus is €4 million or thereabouts, I understand. The McCarthy report wants it abolished altogether. I do not agree with that as I believe we need a national sports facility, to supplement the moneys we have spent on local sports facilities. As the Minister of State says, it now has planning permission and there is a budget of €4 million.
Under a freedom of information request it has come to my attention that the National Sports Campus has a contractual commitment of €9.5 million for project management and design for phase one of the project, but there is no budget whatsoever for that. On top of that it took over the Abbotstown lands this year and the maintenance costs for this is an additional €1 million for which there is no budget. The international benchmarking report, last year, said that the aquatic centre alone would need an annual subsidy of €1.5 million, and there is no budget for that either.
Can the Minister of State say what meetings have taken place between the Minister and the sports campus, to discuss the fact that it has contractual commitments? What consideration is being given to the fact that it may have to withdraw from these contractual commitments? What will the cost be, not just the financial cost, but in terms of the loss of expertise in standing down the design team and the lost momentum in providing these facilities? It is catastrophic as far as this facility is concerned, and in terms of the Government's annual budget, let alone the budget for sports.
The Deputy will appreciate that I do not deal with sports matters. I do not have that information to hand and I will communicate with the Deputy.
Will the Minister of State say whether the planning permission is for a five year period or longer? If it is only for five years, what realistically are the prospects of getting this started and in place within that timeframe? Is this just another large "Bertie" white elephant legacy that we are now inheriting, with substantial amounts of money already spent, and absolutely no return? All types of promises were made to the effect that we would have a state-of-the-art facility for the Olympics. Usain Bolt was to come here, according to the Minister, Deputy Martin Cullen, but the Jamaican team is now going to Birmingham, for example. Realistically, what is happening to it?
Perhaps the Deputy might table a parliamentary question in this regard, if the information is not available.
I would not speculate on what will or will not be completed within the period. On a more general issue, over many years there has been a tendency to politicise this project in respect of a former Taoiseach. However, at its core are some very worthwhile facilities that are worth providing.
Is it not just a case of spending a great deal of money with no outcome?
Does the Minister of State believe it would ever be acceptable for a Department or Government agency to withdraw from a contract pleading inability to pay? Is that feasible? Has it ever happened in history that a Government agency has been forced to withdraw from a contract claiming that it cannot pay for it? This is the position in which the sports campus finds itself.
To get this information the Deputy would need to submit another parliamentary question.
I have submitted a question. I appreciate that the Minister of State is at a disadvantage.
I am not an expert in contract law. However, normally contracts are binding unless the contract provides — as it sometimes does — a method of withdrawing from it.
It is inability to pay.
I could not tell the Deputy what precedents exist.
Very few.
