Vol. 572 No. 1
61 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the provision of a new national stadium; the number of locations which are under consideration by the Government for this development; if a decision on funding for the project has been made; the timescale for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22454/03]
63 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the Government has now received the Ove Arup report, on the provision of a stadium for rugby and soccer; if it will accept the recommendations contained in the report; when a definitive statement on a way forward will be made by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22453/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together.
At my request, the IRFU and the FAI, supported by Arup consultants, set out their prioritised proposals for stadium development in which they considered five locations, including Lansdowne Road, Newlands Cross and Abbotstown, as to their suitability to meet requirements for a modern stadium to host major international rugby and soccer fixtures in the greater Dublin area. This report has been subjected to detailed examination by the Office of Public Works, which acts as my technical adviser on the project. The Office of Public Works engaged international private sector construction consultants, Davis Langdon PKS, to ensure that all matters relating to the proposal were thoroughly evaluated.
I received the Office of Public Works report in the middle of September and I am now reflecting on the issues highlighted by it in conjunction with the response to the earlier initiative to secure stadium facilities with the assistance of private sector funds. When I have considered the matter fully, I will present my assessment to Cabinet for decision. Until the Government has decided on the further action to be taken, I do not intend to make any new policy statements on this matter.
This issue is of major concern to the IRFU and the FAI. What is the Minister's view of the recent statement by the FAI that if a decision on a stadium was not forthcoming, home internationals might have to be played in UK stadia? That totally unacceptable situation would have a major effect on our standing in terms of soccer in the EU and on the world stage where we have made good progress.
If I remember correctly, during a previous Question Time we seemed to rule out any involvement by the private sector. It seemed to be the case that the Government and-or the two associations would provide the funding. The associations would do so by selling advance tickets and the Government would do so through capital funding. Are we moving away from that position or are we avoiding making a decision? Other spokespersons and I have given the Minister our full support for the stadium. However, we seem to be avoiding making the decision about when it will happen. Will the Minister state when a decision will be made? This matter has been ongoing since I became spokesperson. When will we be in a position to tell the FAI and the IRFU that a decision has been made? I understand the Minister's point that each application must be processed to ensure we make the right decision. However, it is time to make that decision. We know about the disappointment of the associations. We have seen many reports on this issue, but we do not seem to be able to make a decision.
I appreciate Deputy Wall's support for the stadium and that of the Fine Gael Party. The FAI has expressed great concern on the basis that it has been informed by FIFA that it is not a tenable situation in the longer term to have temporary seating placed in Lansdowne Road. At present, 11,000 bucket seats must be brought into Lansdowne Road for international games. The FAI has been informed by FIFA that it will not tolerate that in the longer term or perhaps in the medium term. Meanwhile the IRFU is in a difficult situation. The Lansdowne Road stadium has outlived its age and is no longer an appropriate stadium to host major international events.
As regards the involvement of the private sector, the 23 expressions of interest which arrived in on the last occasion were, for the most part, unsatisfactory. Unacceptable conditions were attached to some of the general expressions of interest. As regards a decision, I have outlined that I received the Ove Arup report. I asked the Office of Public Works to examine that and it did so in conjunction with the internationally renowned consultants, Davis Langdon PKS. We are now evaluating the situation within the Department. I hope to be in a position soon to go to Government with a memorandum seeking a decision. A number of options will be put before the Government. My view is well known. I strongly favour the construction of a new stadium. It is required in the interests of our sportsmen and women and in the interests of the sporting public, not to mention our international standing.
I apologise for being absent for the first question. I was in my office writing and did not notice the time.
Does the Minister accept that Government actions over recent years – years before his time, in some cases – have undermined the GAA's democratic process, caused divides in the FAI and left the IRFU sidelined? Does he accept that having had the report since early April, he has no option but to proceed with a stadium now? Will he make a decision as quickly as possible? How much of taxpayers' money has been spent so far on the Abbotstown project?
The suggestion that the actions of the Government have resulted in the sidelining of any organisation is complete nonsense. That simply did not happen – quite the opposite. The GAA has been assisted in all its facilities across the country and €70 million was made available to the organisation by the Government for the wonderful development of Croke Park. The objective of the exercise all the way through has been to make progress on obtaining a consensus. It is necessary in the short-term that we reach a decision and, as I have outlined, I have been doing everything possible to prepare the most comprehensive memorandum possible for the Government with a view to obtaining a decision. The decision is one for the Government to make, as Deputy Allen knows. I provide the memorandum but the decision is a collective one. The memorandum will set out a number of options from which the Government will choose.
We know from press releases and so on that the current uachtarán of Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Mr. Seán Kelly, is in favour of opening up Croke Park and we are also aware of the problems that exist in the democratic process involved in making a decision on the issue. The serious nature of the matter is reflected in the Minister's answer about the possibility of international matches being played on foreign soil. Could a meeting be arranged between the Minister and the uachtarán to consider these problems? Goodwill is no use unless we try to make use of it. We must make contact and move things forward.
Have there been or will there be any meetings with Mr. Kelly on this matter? I fully understand the problems involved – the Minister and I have spoken in the House about democratic processes in the GAA on previous occasions and it is clear that the council must make some progress on this. Where there is goodwill we should use it. Has the Minister spoken officially or unofficially to the GAA about the opening up of Croke Park? Everybody is committed to providing a stadium – the Minister is obviously committed – we are only talking about an interim measure to overcome the current problems.
The Minister did not give a response to my first question about the expenditure to date on the Abbotstown project. Does he agree that the Taoiseach's intervention on the eve of the GAA's vote on Croke Park was gross interference and denied the organisation the opportunity of opening Croke Park? The torpedoing of the FAI project and fracturing of the structures within the FAI was the result of gross interference by the Government and the sidelining of the IRFU was an example of interference with that association. Does the Minister agree that due to this undermining of the democratic structures of the different sporting organisations, which took place before his time, it his now his responsibility to make a decision?
The Ove Arup report has been with the Minister since last April. What discussions have taken place at Cabinet level since then? What discussions have taken place with Deputy Harney and her party representatives about this project?
From June 2000 to September 2003, €85 million has been spent by the Exchequer on the Sports Campus Ireland project. Of this amount, €71 million was spent on the construction of the National Aquatic Centre and €11 on administrative and ongoing costs of CSID, most of which relate to the National Aquatic Centre, including executive services, project management, consultancy costs and VAT payments, although some of the VAT payment may be recouped. The balance of €3 million relates to planning and site survey work in preparation and development of the campus site. A total of €8.4 million was provided in 2003 for the completion of the National Aquatic Centre, to cover both capital and current costs.
In answer to Deputy Wall's question about the GAA, I have had a number of unofficial contacts with the president of the GAA about a national stadium and about the position of the GAA on Croke Park. It is my intention to have a more formal meeting in the near future and Mr. Kelly has indicated that he would be quite happy to come to such a meeting to discuss the various issues.
I am not aware of any interference with the GAA, the FAI or the IRFU.
I could spend an hour telling the Minister about it.
All I know is that the question of a national stadium was first put on the agenda by the Taoiseach because he supports the idea of having one. Energy has been expended not on misguiding anybody or trying to interfere but on seeking to bring the idea to fruition. The decision is a collective one for the Government, which has not discussed the issue in recent months for the simple reason that the memorandum has not been ready. It should be ready in the near future and the Government will then make a decision, which will become public.
Has the Taoiseach discussed this with the Tánaiste?
I can only give the Deputy the information in my possession.
