Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I cannot answer the Deputy's last question off the top of my head. If he will accept a broad figure, it could be in the region of €30 million to €40 million but I will not be held to that. If he wants, I can ascertain the figure.

The sense of nervousness which might be felt by the tenderers has nothing to do with the National Asset Management Agency or Government finances, rather it relates to their ability to raise finance for the project on the international money markets. That is where they may be making approaches to different people to try to see what assistance and help they can get.

There has been a considerable amount of commentary since the project was first mooted. It is at oral hearing stage at present. The oral hearing has been adjourned in order that further information may be looked at in depth and so on. I presume that will delay the decision. Not as much will need to be spent this year as we anticipated. However, that is a function of the planning system and that is why I do not like to make predictions about when a project will finish until it has gone through the planning system.

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