Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the stadium capacity in the country at present; the extent to which various sporting organisations can be accommodated within such capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9457/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Croke Park has a capacity of 82,300 now that the redevelopment of the stadium has been completed. Lansdowne Road stadium at present has a capacity of 49,000 for rugby matches and 36,000 for UEFA and FIFA soccer matches and 44,100 for friendly international soccer matches. The capacity of Lansdowne Road stadium will increase to 50,000 following its redevelopment and as the Deputy will be aware, the Government has decided to provide funding of €191 million for this project.

In addition, there are numerous sports stadia around the country in use by the three main sporting bodies — the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI — in addition to stadia operated by other sporting organisations, e.g., the national boxing stadium and the national hockey stadium, not to mention greyhound and horseracing stadia. Information relating to the capacity of any of these facilities is not readily available to the Department.