John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

In January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of €191 million to the joint IRFU-FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium. In January 2006, the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, LRSDC, the company charged with delivery of the project, submitted a planning application to Dublin City Council. Before doing so, the company engaged in an extensive period of consultations with local groups and has endeavoured to address to the maximum extent possible concerns expressed by these groups.

As would be expected in a project of this size and nature, a number of submissions were made to the planning authorities, including objections lodged by a number of local residents groups and individual residents. The planning authority has sought further information from the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company on a number of aspects of the proposed development.

The Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company is preparing a comprehensive response to the request from Dublin City Council for further information and expects to submit its response this week. Officials of my Department have been briefed by the development company on the planning issues and I have been assured that every effort is being made to address all the issues raised to the fullest extent.

It is not possible to estimate the length of time that will be required to complete the planning process. Up to the present, the project has proceeded on schedule and I hope the planning process will not delay that schedule.

With regard to the dispute between the IRFU and the named rugby football club, this is a matter between the IRFU and the club in question. It is clear that ultimately the issues must be resolved by the parties directly involved and I do not intend to intervene in this matter. Discussions between these parties are still ongoing and I am confident that a solution will be found and the dispute will not delay the redevelopment of the stadium.

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