Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I cannot answer that question at the moment. It will be treated like everything else is, I am afraid. I appreciate the very public plea but I make the very public response that I will use the exact same criteria for it as everything else. Pairc Uí Chaoimh is developing very well as I am sure the Deputy will be aware. We gave it a large sum of money towards the end of last year; from memory there is some €7 million out of €30 million still to go. It is pretty much completed. It is very important to us that the project at Pairc Uí Chaoimh be finalised, not least because of the Rugby World Cup. It is going to play a role in that, along with other stadiums. If we win the right to host the competition, it will be an important and integral part of that particular project.

I keep having to explain to people about whether sport is getting more this year than it did last year. Some people say we are and others say we are not. What has happened is that the baseline figure for sport has increased by €3 million. The non-recurring figure for the national indoor arena is something of the order of €18 million. That is not recurring. The figure has gone up by €3 million. The Deputy is asking if the Sport Ireland people are satisfied with the progress of the national indoor arena. I do not suppose that they are, nor am I, and nor is anybody, but it is a very big project. We have to find the funding for it and are determined to do so. I am sure that we would all like to see the project's progress accelerate and be done in the next few weeks but we are determined to find it and get it in place as quickly as possible. I have not heard of any dissatisfaction on the part of Sport Ireland, incidentally, but I am sure those involved would like to see the project move very fast.