Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will review his decision to grant funding for a 6,000 seat stadium in Tallaght only if the facility is used for soccer exclusively; if his attention has been drawn to the recent request to the High Court by a local GAA club to bring a legal challenge to South Dublin County Council's ruling on the matter; the position of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11729/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to recent comments from the president of the GAA that the association is disappointed and unhappy at the Government's refusal to allow gaelic games to be played in the proposed sports stadium in Tallaght; his views on these comments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11730/07]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the completion of the Shamrock Rovers stadium in Tallaght; if it remains his position as set out in reply to an adjournment debate on 9 February 2006, that the stadium should be used primarily for soccer and that there would be considerable cost implications and further delays if the stadium had to be adjusted to cater for gaelic games; the discussions he has had with either the FAI or the GAA with a view to resolving the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11742/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 86 and 89 together.

In response to approaches from South Dublin County Council, the FAI and Shamrock Rovers FC, I gave a commitment on behalf of the Government that funding would be provided towards the completion of a soccer stadium in Tallaght. The specifications for the stadium is that it would be capable of hosting soccer fixtures and that it would provide capacity for 6,000 seated spectators and this capacity is provided for under the planning approval. In supporting the provision of a soccer stadium at Tallaght, I am seeking to bring to completion a long-standing plan for a soccer stadium on this site and to fulfil the Government's undertaking to provide soccer facilities.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, my Department allocated funding of €2.57m towards this project over the 3 years 2000 to 2002. €2.44m has already been provided to Shamrock Rovers Stadium Development Committee based on work, carried out prior to the end of 2002. The FAI via Shamrock Rovers FC provided €457,000 towards this stage of the project.

It is my understanding that, to accommodate a full size senior GAA pitch in the available space and taking into account the works already completed on the site, significant changes would have to be made to the existing plans, which would impact on the approved capacity for the stadium, cause further delays and increase costs.

I have discussed the matter with the GAA at both national and Dublin County Board level on a number of occasions and my Department has had meetings with senior officials of the South Dublin County Council, the FAI and the GAA in seeking to progress the project. I am deeply disappointed at the continuing impediment that is delaying this project and which could have serious additional cost implications for its development.

I have no problem with the principle of Tallaght stadium being made available to other codes, including GAA , once the stadium is completed to soccer specifications and the Government commitment to the FAI and Shamrock Rovers can be honoured. I hope that South Dublin County Council will soon be in a position to make progress and complete this stadium in a timely and cost effective manner.