Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in regard to the National Stadium; when the project is expected to proceed to conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11163/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The redevelopment of Croke Park has been completed and work on the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road is ongoing with a completion date of 2010. These facilities will meet the stadium needs of our three main field sports. The Government approved, in November 2005, the commencement of Phase One of the development of the National Sports Campus on the basis of a Development Control Plan prepared by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Company Ltd (CSID) — the predecessor of the National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA). These facilities will be designed to meet the indoor and outdoor training needs of Irish elite sportspersons who compete at national and international levels and will also provide for the needs of the local community.

The Government decision for this stage of development included agreement to move the HQ of the FAI to the former State Laboratory building at Abbotstown. Work on the building was completed and the FAI took possession of the building in December last year. It is also intended to provide a headquarters for the Institute for Sport by refurbishing an existing building on the site. The NSCDA expects to be in a position to finalise the appointment of the Design and Project Management teams for the project shortly. It is then the intention of the Authority to have detailed plans prepared, for the implementation of Phase One, and it is estimated that planning permission will be sought later this year.

The Abbotstown facilities, when completed will provide a much needed range of training and competitive facilities for our finest sportspersons. Through the National Aquatic Centre a top world class sports facility has already been provided. Now being progressed is the development of a state of the art complex of quality facilities to serve a wide spectrum of sport activities and disciplines which will benefit elite sports persons and the local community alike. The first phase of the project will comprise 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 20 National Governing Bodies of Sport; accommodation for sports men and women; sports science and medical facilities, and all-weather synthetic pitches for community use.