Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of the estimated €9 million cost that will be borne by the central Exchequer in relation to Tallaght Stadium; if is it reasonable to assume such funding will be allocated under the sports capital grants programme; if a significant amount of funding is allocated from the sports capital allocation, if this will have an effect on other applications for the sports capital allocations for 2008; if, in the event of funding being approved from the Exchequer for this programme, directives will accompany this funding in regard to utilising Tallaght Stadium as a multi-use venue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4768/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I recently visited the Tallaght Stadium which is due to become the home of Shamrock Rovers FC in 2009 and also a significant community amenity for that area of Dublin. I am pleased that all the obstacles facing this project have now been resolved. I have been assured by South Dublin County Council that the Contractor is ready to resume the works on the stadium within weeks and it is hoped that the first phase can be completed before the end of this year at an estimated cost of €9m. Phase One will see the completion of the stand on one side of the pitch with a seating capacity of 3,000, the playing surface, changing rooms and showers and other amenities.

Officials from South Dublin County Council have met with officials from my Department to discuss the funding of the project. My Department has already allocated grants of €2.44m under the Sports Capital Programme to the development over the period 2000 to 2002. I have recently announced a new round of the Sports Capital Programme and I understand that South Dublin County Council will be making an application for funding for the project under the Programme. The normal terms and conditions of the Sports Capital Programme will apply to any successful application. Any funding which may be approved in respect of this project will be met from within Subhead C1 of my Department's vote which is specifically for supporting projects of this nature.

Through the Sports Capital Programme this Government has invested considerable sums into important sporting infrastructure in every county of Ireland. Since 1998 a total of €568m has been allocated in sports capital funding to 6,716 sports projects across the country. The programme is open to any applicant with a suitable project which meets the terms and conditions of the programme. The assessment of applications is a competitive process and a limited amount of funding is available each year. With regard to the utilisation of Tallaght Stadium, that will be a matter for South Dublin County Council. However, the Council anticipates that, in addition to the use of the facilities by Shamrock Rovers, the stadium would accommodate other sporting, municipal and community events.