Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to the Campus Stadium Ireland project; the plans for the future of the site; the cost associated with the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20329/05]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has presented to Cabinet his proposals on the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown, County Dublin; if so, the timeframe for the development of the campus; if the delays with Abbotstown are having serious repercussions for sports infrastructure and development here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20286/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the expenditure to date on the Campus Stadium Ireland project; his ultimate plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 33 and 104 together.

In January 2004 the Government decided to proceed with the development of a sports campus on the State-owned lands at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, having consulted widely with the major governing bodies of sport, stakeholders and interest groups, put forward proposals for the development of a sports campus.

This development control plan represents phase one of a wider programme for the provision of sports facilities. It proposes the development of pitches and ancillary accommodation catering mainly for the three major field sports — rugby, soccer and Gaelic games — as well as an indoor sports centre to cater for a range of indoor sports with spectator accommodation and also includes publicly accessible all weather floodlit synthetic pitches.

I have considered the development control plan for a sports campus at Abbotstown in detail and it has my full support. I have consulted Cabinet colleagues on the proposals and will be seeking formal Government approval for them in the very near future.

Between 2001 and 2003, a sum of €3 million was spent on site development works and site surveys; these surveys will be used when the project commences. Other than this sum there has been no capital expenditure on the Abbotstown Campus project at this stage.

I am committed to ensuring that sports facilities of the highest quality should be in place at this time for the support of Irish sports men and women but I recognise that thorough planning and preparation are a prerequisite for a major investment of this nature.