Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

Will the Minister of State say whether the planning permission is for a five year period or longer? If it is only for five years, what realistically are the prospects of getting this started and in place within that timeframe? Is this just another large "Bertie" white elephant legacy that we are now inheriting, with substantial amounts of money already spent, and absolutely no return? All types of promises were made to the effect that we would have a state-of-the-art facility for the Olympics. Usain Bolt was to come here, according to the Minister, Deputy Martin Cullen, but the Jamaican team is now going to Birmingham, for example. Realistically, what is happening to it?

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