As I informed the Deputy on 16 December 1998, 27 April 1999 and 13 October 1999 in response to similar questions, the Government announced on 13 October 1998 that it had agreed to commission a feasibility study for the development of a stadium for the new century and appointed a stadium steering committee to oversee the process.
The feasibility study, conducted by a consortium of consultants led by PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been completed and presented to the Government with the recommendations of the steering committee. The study and recommendations were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 26 January last. The work of the steering committee has been completed and the Deputy will be aware of the Government's decision to proceed with the development of the Sports Campus Ireland and Stadium Ireland. On 9 February, the Dáil agreed to support the Government's decision.
The official who acted as secretary to the stadium steering committee undertook the task in addition to his normal duties. In addition to the administrative costs arising from the work of the stadium steering committee, the main cost to my Department was that of the feasibility study, the amount of which was £380,033, which I stated previously.