Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding his Department has allocated for his Department's capital fund allocation for the next phase of the Abbotstown development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39399/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the next phase of the Abbotstown development will take place; the amount of funding which was allocated in the budget 2006 statement for the next phase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39401/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 224 together.

The Government decided to proceed with the development of phase one of the sports campus project at Abbotstown. The estimated cost of the project at €119 million was provided in my Department's Multi-annual Capital Investment Framework 2006-10. Specifically, a sum of €9.5 million was provided in my Department's budget for 2006 to commence the project at the Abbotstown sports campus with the balance of the funding being provided over the period from 2007 to 2010. This is an affirmation of the 2004 decision by the Government to develop a range of sports facilities in a number of phases over a period of years on the State owned site at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited has been requested to proceed with the implementation of the Government's decision.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding his Department has allocated for his Department's capital fund allocation for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39400/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position of the allocation of funding to the Lansdowne Road redevelopment project by his Department; when funding will commence; the reason there is a discrepancy of €10 million between the allocation as stated in the Book of Estimates of €30 million to that stated in the budget 2006 statement of €20 million; if this reduction indicates problems with the development or in regard to matching funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39402/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 225 together.

The figure of €30 million referred to by the Deputy was originally set out in my Department's capital envelope for 2005-09 published 12 months ago. It was reproduced in this year's Abridged Estimate Volume on the basis that it would be subject to revision on budget day. Thus, the figure of €20 million provided for in the 2006-10 capital envelope for my Department is based on the most up-to-date estimate of the 2006 funding needs of the project as projected by the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company and its design and project management teams.

I assure the Deputy that the project is proceeding in accordance with the schedule set out for the project and the Government is fully committed to the funding which has been outlined for the development. Indeed, under the funding arrangements made with the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company the Deputy should be aware that the Exchequer funding for the project is front loaded. At the end of this year an amount of €10 million will have been spent on the project. I understand that a planning application will be ready for lodgement by the end of this month.