Vol. 537 No. 4
12 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department has carried out any cost assessment of the Campus/Stadium Ireland project; the results of this assessment; the role his Department will have in setting up, pursuing or assessing the independent audits of the project, recently announced by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14219/01]
19 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of requests to participate received from consultants to undertake an overview of the cost of developing Stad ium and Campus Ireland, received by the closing date of 22 May 2001; when a decision will be made as to who will undertake the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16192/01]
35 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in the context of the proposed overview of the costs of developing Stadium and Campus Ireland, he has considered requesting the Comptroller and Auditor General to undertake a value for money study of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16193/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 19 and 35 together.
The Government has decided to engage independent consultants to undertake an overview of the cost of the proposed Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland project and to assist in determining final Exchequer allocations for the project and the sensitivity of such allocations to variations in the scale of each element of the project.
The first term of reference set by Government for the consultants, which my Department is in the process of engaging, will be to review the overall approach and contracting strategy adopted to date in securing the development of Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland and associated infrastructure, with regard to risk identification, management processes and structures, timing and overall cost effectiveness. The second term of reference is for the consultants to advise on the assessment of the contract awarding authority for the project, CSID, of the gross cost range and of the Exchequer funding requirements for each facility proposed for the Campus emerging from the outline bid phase due for completion on 21 June, the tendering process for which is now under way.
The third term of reference is to advise on CSID's assessment, at the end of the outline bid process, of operating costs and revenues likely to be associated with Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland, and the likely net impact on the Exchequer. The fourth term of reference is to assess the estimated costs of relocating existing facilities from the Abbotstown site arising directly from the decision to establish Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland there. The fifth term of reference is to assess the estimated costs of access infrastructure directly attributable to the development of Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland.
The sixth term of reference is to establish the extent and timing of the likely Exchequer liability associated with the above developments. The seventh term of reference is to ascertain the direct and indirect benefits from the developments outlined above, including the impact of physical development and access on the hinterland of Abbotstown and on the Dublin region and the positive impact of infrastructure development and make recommendations to me as appropriate in the context of the overall purpose of the overview.
The consultants will liaise with and be guided by a steering group of senior officials, drawn from my Department and the Departments of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Finance. They will be required to deliver a report not later than three months after the date of commissioning. In response to the notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 11 May 2001 inviting expressions of interest to undertake the overview, 15 such expressions were received from consultants by the closing date of 22 May 2001. My Department, in consultation with the steering group, shortlisted eight qualified candidates who have been invited to tender. The closing date for submission of tenders is Friday, 8 June. As the Government decided this overview would be carried out in the manner I have outlined, the question of requesting the Comptroller and Auditor General to undertake the study does not arise.
Given the lengths to which the Government is prepared to go to press ahead with this project, I am concerned. It is difficult to imagine any commercial consultants retaining true independence. The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is the only body that can guarantee constitutional independence when assessing this project. The Government continually complains that the Opposition and others do not share its support for this project. Does the Minister agree that people are entitled to be concerned about the use of such a large amount of public funds?
Now that the Minister is about to appoint consultants to review this project following a decision on 8 June, will he give a commitment that no contracts will be signed until the review has been completed? Will the entire campus be reviewed, or will the review focus on the stadium, which is by far the most controversial element of the project?
In response to Deputy Moynihan-Cronin's question, we are all concerned about costs. I look forward to the overview as there have been nothing but negative vibes from the other side of the House. We are all concerned about the costs of projects. Deputies have spoken of millions being poured into the stadium, despite the fact that only 0.4% of Exchequer funding goes to sport. This country's traditions have made its people averse to risk, but we have tried to reposition our thinking in the past ten or 12 years. All investment involves a form of risk, but it is not necessarily a total gamble. Millions of pounds have been invested in research and every research project is a step into the unknown.
I admit we must be prudent and reduce risk but the only way to eliminate risk is to do absolutely nothing. This country has not been built on such an attitude in the last ten to 12 years, as there has been an entrepreneurial spirit here in that time. Thankfully, Fianna Fáil has been in Government for ten of the 12 years, seven with the Progressive Democrats and three with the Labour Party. To be fair to Fine Gael, we cannot enter coalition with that party.
Why not?
I have to ask Deputy Naughten if there are any recent positive developments where Fine Gael's fingerprints can be seen?
The Minister should do the House the courtesy of answering my question.
I think it is a great idea.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
