Vol. 541 No. 3
4 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the consultant's report on the feasibility of Stadium Ireland and Campus Ireland has been presented to Government; if it will be made available to the public in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22055/01]
Following a Government decision on 1 May 2001, independent consultants, High-Point Rendel, were engaged to undertake an overview of the cost of the Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland project. The steering group of senior officials overseeing the work expect to have their final meeting with the consultants within the next seven days, after which the consultants' report will be submitted to the Government for its consideration and decision. It is envisaged that the report will be submitted to the Government during October.
Until the steering group has submitted this independent report to me and I have submitted it to the Government for its consideration I do not intend to make any statement on its contents.
I understand the consultants have already passed on the report to the steering committee and that the committee has sought clarification. Obviously at this stage the Minister is aware of the types of figures involved. Are they considerably more than the original estimate, for example?
It is for that reason that I keep a hands-off approach to this. The consultants have reported to the steering committee. If I were to interfere now the Deputy would say I had in some way altered the report to my benefit. I have not been involved with it, as it is an independent report and as soon as that report comes to me during the steering committee I will bring it to Government, where it will discussed. Only then will we be able to make a decision on the matter.
Will the Minister publish it?
A report in one of the Sunday newspapers last week stated that the costs are now considerably more than the original estimate of £550 million for both the stadium and the campus. Can the Minister give us an indication as to whether costs have escalated to that extent? Will the Government still go ahead with this project? Will money be provided in this year's Estimates for the project in the event of a considerably higher estimate than was envisaged?
There were two conflicting reports in the newspapers, one of which stated that the cost was very close while the other stated the stadium cost had overrun. When I get the report I will bring it to Government and it will be a decision for Government as to whether to publish it.
Neither newspaper carried any of the benefits and I have always argued that there are great benefits to accrue from a stadium like this. I have always maintained that the stadium represents money to be spent over a period of six to seven years and that there was money for it in the Exchequer – no other sector such as health, education and environmental projects would be at a loss or suffer as a result of the stadium. I have always maintained nothing else should suffer as a result and that is the way we were proceeding as there was money to do all that at that time. I accept that circumstances have changed but at the same time I am committed to the idea of the stadium. There is a great deal of planning and architectural work to be done yet and we will do it. Circumstances have changed in recent months. We are still committed to the stadium but we have also been a competent Government over the past four years and we will prioritise as we have done in the past.
There is also a report that some of the main bidders have now pulled out because of the uncertainty. Can the Minister confirm the number of bidders still under consideration and whether some have already pulled out at this stage?
Approximately £150 million was committed to the FAI and £80 million to the GAA to get their support for the project. Has that money been paid to those organisations? If not, when will it be paid?
Originally there were six bidders and I have had no indication that anyone has pulled out; that is to the best of my knowledge as I have not involved myself since we left this to the independent consultants. However nobody has said that anyone has pulled out of this.
Regarding the GAA and FAI, the money for the Special Olympics, which was £15 million, has been paid over to the GAA and negotiations with the GAA are ongoing. My officials had meetings with the FAI yesterday, during which its situation was discussed, and I understand there was a satisfactory outcome to that meeting as well.
