Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when work will commence on Campus Ireland at Abbotstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans for Campus Stadium Ireland at Abbotstown; the total costs or associated costs to date in 2005; the likely ongoing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28337/05]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has presented, or is planning to present, proposals to Cabinet for a €120 million campus for sporting facilities at Abbotstown, west Dublin; the facilities which will be available at the new campus; the timeframe for this development; if the facility will be open to all sports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28320/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans for the future development at Campus Stadium Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28551/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 21, 25 and 115 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decided in 2004 to proceed, as financial resources permit, with the development of a campus of sports facilities 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 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. Over 30 sports can be accommodated in the proposed indoor sports centre. They include indoor hockey, hurling, tennis, gymnastics, badminton, basketball, martial arts, bowls and boxing.

This phase of the programme has been costed at €118 million and will have a four or five year delivery schedule. There has been no capital expenditure on the sports campus project in 2005.

The Government has had an initial discussion on the proposal at the Cabinet meeting of 7 September and directed that further analysis be carried out by the Office of Public Works to facilitate the delivery of the project. I expect to bring the outcome of this investigative work to Government shortly. In the meantime, the funding which would lead to a commencement of the project is currently being considered in the context of the multi-annual capital envelope for my Department, which will be agreed prior to the budget.