Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress of the national sports campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41674/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Following the completion of the move by the FAI to the former State Laboratory building at Abbotstown last year, work has been advanced on providing a headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport. That involves refurbishing an existing building on the Abbotstown site. Construction is expected to commence before the end of the year and the Irish Institute of Sport is expected to move into its new headquarters during 2009.

Following the appointment by the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA, in April last of project management and design teams, detailed plans for phase one of the campus have been completed by the authority. The NSCDA expects to apply for planning permission for the campus project before the end of 2008. The facilities in respect of which the application for planning permission is being prepared are in accordance with the development control plan as originally approved and include a national field sports training centre catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey; a multi-sport national indoor training centre to provide world class training facilities for more than 20 sports; sports science and medical facilities; accommodation for sportsmen and women; and all-weather synthetic pitches for community recreational access.

I regard the development of the sports campus at Abbotstown as a crucial piece of sporting infrastructure in the support of our athletes as they get ready to represent us in European and World competitions. I am reviewing with the NSCDA how we might best advance the campus project from 2009 taking into consideration the current difficult economic constraints.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I did some sums also on the funding allocated to arts and sport. My read is that there is a drop of 8% for them. That is a substantial cut and is significantly more than in other Departments. I raise that against the background of what will happen to sport in general and, in particular, to the national sports campus. Am I correct in thinking that only €4.4 million has been set aside for 2009?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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That is correct.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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That will not develop anything like the requirements that are set out. Where will that leave our commitment, for instance, to the Irish Institute of Sport, to the preparation for the London Olympics and the general enhancement of facilities and support for our elite athletes? To a certain extent, arts and sport have become the fall guy in the budget. They were the soft option. We have to look at what is happening to sport in general in the country and get back to making the commitment that is needed to enhance and support it.

Let us compare the great sporting achievements in recent days with the lack of achievement in the Olympics. We must be aware of the importance of sport and also the need to support it. If we do not support the national sports campus I do not see how we will make any progress.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The athletes would be disappointed with the Deputy's comment on the lack of success at the Olympics.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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In general.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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There were a number of successes in terms of best achievements and best times achieved and we won a silver medal and two bronze medals, albeit in one sport, namely, boxing. Nevertheless, one can never be prescriptive about the sport in which one would like to win medals. We did win medals and I hope we will win more in 2012, as I am sure does the Deputy.

Everybody is discounting the cost of the Lansdowne Road redevelopment in my budget. The State allocated over €191 million therefor. We are not building stadia such as that at Lansdowne Road every year and it is clear that subtracting a sum such as €191 million from the overall budget results in a significant drop in the Department's capital. This sets the context for 2009.

We have not engaged in the planning process for the campus yet and it will take a considerable amount of time next year. That there is not a huge allocation for next year does not mean the project cannot get under way. By the time the planning and design considerations are cleared, it will probably be very much towards the end of next year. I would like to see some of the facilities built at Abbotstown. If we cannot complete the full phase 1 programme, which is unlikely given the current economic climate, we will still be able to work on a number of significant projects, such as the national indoor training centre. This will provide facilities for over 20 sports. The hockey facilities are such that teams now have a great shot at doing extremely well in the Olympic Games in 2012. I am working with the company at Abbotstown to determine how to make progress in this regard.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Although the Minister said there will be a slowdown next year, can I take it there will be a catch-up thereafter? We would be quite happy with that but it is not the message we are meant to be hearing. It would be great if there were a catch-up and we could survive without the planning process moving ahead as quickly as hoped if, in the following year, the funds were made available again. Can we assume this will be the case?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is unlikely it will be possible to spend the full €160 million in the next three years. I do not want to see the project abandoned. It is too central to the development of sport in this country and the ability to attract many different nations here prior to the 2012 Olympic Games. The Australians have already made inquiries about the National Aquatic Centre. They have seen it and believe it is a wonderful facility for swimming, diving and training. I would like to enhance the aquatic centre site at Abbotstown by providing some more facilities, which I hope will be built over the coming years. I am considering the cost of this in addition to the structure to ascertain what we can deliver.