Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position with regard to the development of the Abbotstown Sports Campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34827/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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In November 2005 the Government gave its assent to the commencement of phase one of the development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. The estimated overall cost of the Phase 1 development is €119m and development is scheduled to take place over a 4 to 5 year period. Planning and preparatory work for this project has commenced and work is already underway on the refurbishment of the State Laboratory as the new headquarters for FAI Ireland.

Phase One of the Development Control Plan 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/ 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 2006-2010.

The Fingal County Development Plan for the Abbotstown area requires that a study is undertaken to determine a suitable mix of sporting and appropriate commercial, leisure, and amenity uses to create a vibrant and sustainable sports campus and assess the possibility of opening up park lands for the residents of the Blanchardstown Area. In this regard, an inter-agency group is currently at work; it is chaired by the Office of Public Works and involving my Department, the Departments of Finance and Agriculture and Food, the Office of Public Works, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd and Fingal Country Council. Fingal County Council has undertaken a public consultation process as part of the study. The Planning Study is currently underway and is expected to be completed before the end of the year. When agreed it will act as a blue-print for the planning process for each facility to be provided at Abbotstown over the next four years. The National Aquatic Centre, the first facility developed on this site, was completed in 2003 at a capital cost of €71m.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the audit of sports facilities conducted by his Department is complete; when he intends to publish this report; the way the report will used by his Department to plan and develop sporting facilities nationally; if the Census 2006 Preliminary Report figures were used in conducting this report; if the findings of the report will form a component of the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34702/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the National audit of sport and recreational facilities will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34707/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 44 together.

The nationwide audit of sports facilities has commenced and is being carried out in stages to help speed up the availability of information. Phase one of the audit will establish a record of national and regional sports facilities and is being carried out within my Department.

The work currently being undertaken is a data gathering exercise in conjunction with the main sporting bodies and local authorities to identify the facilities for inclusion in this phase. My Department has identified a list of in excess of one hundred sports facilities of national or regional significance that have been funded under the sports capital programme since 1999 and in addition, details of facilities at third level educational institutions and swimming pools have also been included on this inventory. Further engagement with the main sporting bodies, local authorities, facility owners and managers is being undertaken so that a comprehensive database on the range and nature of sporting facilities at national and regional level can be completed.

By ascertaining and mapping what is already in place at a national and regional level, an important part of developing a strategic approach to future facility provision will be put in place, as well as establishing the level of need that exists in the sports sector and helping to determine future priorities.

This audit is taking place in the context of the development of a sports facilities strategy, which will also take into account the information contained in the 2006 Census report. As I have previously explained the enormity of completing the complete audit of sports facilities should not be underestimated and given the experience of other countries is likely to take a number of years to complete.