Jack Wall
Ceist:145 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to the development of Landsdowne Road as a national stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23005/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 30 September 2004
Ceisteanna (144)
Freagraí scríofa
At the beginning of September 2004, a formal legal agreement to redevelop the stadium at Lansdowne Road was signed between the Government, the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU, the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, and the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, the special purpose company which has been established to deliver the project. Under the terms of the agreement the IRFU and FAI have agreed to enter into a joint venture together to procure the development of a 50,000 capacity all-seated stadium at Lansdowne Road, which is expected to be completed by December 2008. Funding will be provided by the Exchequer, the IRFU and the FAI on an agreed shared basis. The legal agreement sets out how the project will be delivered, managed and operated and details the funding arrangements that have been entered into.
The Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company Limited has been established jointly by the IRFU and FAI to develop and deliver the stadium. The company will effectively be responsible for building and delivering the stadium. A project director has been appointed to manage the project. The Exchequer will provide its grant allocation of up to €191 million over the lifetime of the project. My Department will ensure that the Government's investment in the project is monitored and protected and that the agreed facility is delivered.