Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the development of the first phase of the Abbotstown project; the estimated date of the completion of the first phase; if it will be completed in time to allow Irish athletes participating in the 2012 Olympics to use the facilities in the run-up to the games; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15152/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, the company charged with developing the sports campus project, have drawn up a detailed proposal for the development of the sports campus at Abbotstown in a series of phases. Planning work for phase one of the development control plan is already under way and will provide: a national field sports training centre, catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey; a national indoor training centre which will provide world class training facilities for over 30 governing bodies of sport; accommodation for sports men and women; sports science and medical facilities; all-weather synthetic pitches for community use; and renovation of existing buildings to cater for needs identified by sports bodies.

Funds for the delivery of the project have been provided in my Department's capital envelope for 2006-10. The estimated cost of the project is €119 million with a four to five-year delivery schedule — 2006-10. An amount of €9.5 million has been provided in the Vote of my Department for work on the project during 2006.

Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited is now proceeding with the delivery of the Abbotstown sports campus. As regards the London Olympics in 2012, I am very conscious of the need to have top class sport facilities in place in good time to provide good training opportunities for Irish athletes and I am determined to build on the Government's existing policy on sports provision at national, regional and local level by having the essential elements of the facility in place in time to allow both Irish and visiting athletes train for the 2012 Olympics here in Ireland.

The Deputy will be aware that since 1998 funding to the value of €395 million has been allocated to 4,923 projects throughout the country, many of which are used by our Olympic participants. Furthermore, the Irish Sports Council is vigorously implementing its high performance strategy which includes a range of supports for our elite performers. The annual budget of the Irish Sports Council has increased from €13 million in 2000 to more than €40 million this year.