Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the redeveloped Lansdowne Road stadium will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20224/05]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the projected timescale for the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20222/05]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had any further discussions with the IRFU and the FAI in regard to securing an appropriate venue for Ireland's home rugby and soccer internationals during the period in which Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 26, 35 and 46 together.

The project to redevelop Lansdowne Road Stadium has already commenced. The end of 2005 has been set as a target date by which to have lodged an application for planning permission. It is not possible at this stage to guage exactly how long it may take to secure full planning permission. However, in anticipation of an early and favourable outcome to the planning application, I would expect that construction work on the stadium would begin during 2007. The period of construction is projected to be 29 months.

The total cost of the project has been estimated at €292 million, of which €191 million has been committed by the Exchequer.

As regards a venue for international and home soccer and rugby matches when the redevelopment project gets under way, I am aware that the IRFU and the FAI have considered a number of contingency options for rugby and soccer matches during the period when the existing pitch at Lansdowne Road stadium will be unavailable. It is a matter for these autonomous sporting bodies to make the necessary arrangements to ensure their match commitments are met. In this regard, I wish to place on record my appreciation of the readiness of the Gaelic Football Association to facilitate the IRFU and the FAI by making Croke Park available for major fixtures during the construction phase at Lansdowne Road.