Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Stadium Ireland.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

71 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total projected cost of all elements of the Stadium/Campus Ireland including the cost of relocating staff now working on the Abbotstown site at the latest date for which figures are available. [2387/01]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

72 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will give a breakdown of the projected costs for Stadium-Campus Ireland set out in the original report of the consultants (details supplied) giving the costs for each individual element of the proposal. [2389/01]

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

87 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total amount paid to date in consultancy fees arising from the Campus and Stadium Ireland project. [2388/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 72 and 87 together.

The feasibility study "A Stadium for the New Century" prepared by PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimated the cost of the stadium at £230 million. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited have estimated the cost of the campus, excluding the stadium, at £320 million. This figure is based on work by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the other sporting facilities involved and on professional estimates as to the cost of commercial facilities planned for the campus.

In putting the various facilities to public tender CSID decided to establish the potential for attracting private investment. CSID believes the private sector will be prepared to invest £150 million in the project, mostly for the commercial facilities. That investment, together with the private donation of £50 million, means that the estimated Exchequer cost of Sports Campus Ireland, including Stadium Ireland, is £350 million. Because all the facilities will go out to public tender and be the subject of an international commercial competition and because CSID wants to attract the best and most competitive bids, it is not possible at this stage to publish the detailed elements of the proposed investment. However, when the tender competitions are completed around the middle of this year, the value of each contract will be known and I will be able to give contracted figures to the House rather than best estimates.

The cost of relocating staff currently working on the Abbotstown site is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.

The estimated costs for a stadium and campus of sporting excellence are set out at paragraphs 1.33 to 1.35 in the feasibility study "A Stadium for the New Century". The study has been placed in the Library and published on the web.

For ease of reference for the Deputy, the costs outlined in the study are as follows:

Stadium costs

1.33 The stadium costs are summarised below.

Table 1A

Summary of Stadium Capital Costs

	IR£M
Stadium (80,000 seats)	144
Fit out and facilities	16
Site infrastructure	8
Total	168

1.34 The stadium capital costs comprise the three elements in Table 1A. Other costs would include professional fees (to be subject to tender but approximately 10%). In addition it is prudent to assume a design contingency of up to 20% of the Stadium capital costs. These costs are summarised in Table 1B.

Table 1B

Contingency and Fees

	IR£M
Design contingency (20%)	32
Professional Fees (10%)	17
Total	49

1.35 Other capital costs that would arise in the context of the Stadium and the Campus for Sporting Excellence are summarised below.

Table 1C

	IR£M
Local infrastructure	13
Campus of Sporting Excellence	51
Total	64

The composition of the Campus and Sporting Excellence estimated cost of £51m is as follows :

Indoor Events Centre	£40 million
Other Campus Facilities	£6 million
Professional fees	£5 million

As limited design infrastructure was available, these are indicative construction costs based on a 15,000 capacity similar facility in the UK which excludes an athletics track. Items included are multi-purpose halls, an indoor tennis facility and a sports science medical centre.

Consultancy costs to date for the project, excluding, VAT are £568,385.13. These costs, that is, £528,885.13, was incurred prior to the establishment of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited and the balance of £39,500 was incurred directly by the company.