The Government is committed to delivering Project Ireland 2040 within the overall multi-year resource envelope that has been set out. For 2019, the capital allocation has increased by €1,325 million or just over 22% above the 2018 allocation as stated in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2019. With regard to implications arising from the National Children’s Hospital project, the Government is currently considering how the additional cost pressures will be accommodated within the multi-year envelope, with a minimum of disruption to the planned rollout and delivery of important infrastructure projects under Project Ireland 2040, which I am pleased to report are proceeding at a strong rate.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus at Abbotstown.
Work on the development of Phase 2 of the National Indoor Arena commenced in July 2017. Phase 2 comprises full-sized and half-sized covered synthetic pitches, primarily for soccer and rugby but capable of accommodating all field-sports, together with changing facilities, strength and conditioning facilities, offices and meeting rooms. The cost of the project is €26m, €6m of which was allocated in 2017, with €18m allocated in 2018 and €2m allocated for completion of the project in 2019. The project was due for completion in mid-2019 but it is currently progressing ahead of schedule and is now expected to be ready for handover to Sport Ireland in March 2019.
At this time, there are no implications for the allocation for this project from the financing of the National Children’s Hospital.
