Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he is in contact with South Dublin County Council in respect of the question of funding for the proposed Shamrock Rovers stadium at Tallaght; the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38112/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has provided support under the sports capital programme for the construction of a new stadium at Tallaght for Shamrock Rovers football club. Grants totalling €2.44 million were expended for this purpose over the period 2000-02. As the former owners of the club were unable to complete the project, South Dublin County Council intervened with the encouragement of my Department to regain control of the site. The shared objective of the Department and the County Council is to ensure the completion of the stadium as a municipal facility which would be made available on an agreed basis for use by Shamrock Rovers and discussions to that end are continuing.

I assure the Deputy my Department remains committed to the provision of quality stadium facilities for soccer at Tallaght and that when satisfied that a project which meets this objective has emerged, it stands ready to allocate support to it via the sports capital programme.