Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the tendering process for the construction of the new national stadium at Lansdowne Road will be complete; if there have been many responses to the initial tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19244/07]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road Stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19327/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress of the re-development of Lansdowne Road as the new national stadium now that the demolition of the old stadium has begun; the timeframe for the construction of the new stadium; if further planning issues or disputes may arise; the latest estimated cost of the redevelopment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19243/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 28 and 34 together.

As the House is aware, in January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of €191m towards the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium as a 50,000 capacity all-seater state-of-the-art facility. The decision in March last by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the project cleared the way for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road to commence. The Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company commenced the demolition of the old stadium in May 2007. The estimated construction period is approximately 29 months and the new stadium should be ready by late 2009 or early 2010.

There are legal disputes regarding the project involving some residents and the I.R.F.U., and I am informed that these have recently been referred to the Commercial Court for adjudication. I am precluded from further specific comment while these matters are before the courts. However I understand that the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company has been engaged in a sustained consultative process with local residents and other bodies in fully understanding and taking on board real concerns to the greatest extent possible.

In common with any construction project, I am informed that there may be minor design revisions identified as requiring the seeking of fresh planning permissions but the Deputy will understand that is a matter entirely for the Development Company working within the relevant Planning Acts. I hope the Deputy will appreciate too, that, while specific tender processes are still in train, it would not be appropriate to comment on the budgeting aspects of the project.

In relation to the tender process I am informed by the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company that the procurement process involves the inviting of tenders for a number of packages. The packages are in relation to Demolition and Rail, Substructure, Steel, Main Contract, Mechanical, Electrical, Cladding, Pitch. Contracts for the first three packages have been awarded and the procurement process is in train for the remaining contracts. It is planned that all of the tender process will have been completed before the end of this year. I understand that so far there has been a good response to initial invitations to tender.