John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will publish the details of the capital projects being initiated during 2008 by his Department and planned for the following four years; the estimate of the final cost of the projects in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23629/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Development Plan, 2007-13, contains a wide range of capital schemes and projects which will be progressively rolled out by my Department over the lifetime of the plan. The NDP includes an €800m Tourism Development Programme, a €904m Cultural Sub-Programme and a €991m Sport Sub-Programme.

As regards Tourism, the international marketing sub-programme is on track, with a budget of €50m provided in 2008. Construction work on the Convention Centre Dublin commenced in 2007 and the steel works for the new building at Spencer Dock are already well advanced. A range of programmes are being advanced in the product development area, including a fund to create tourism attractions of international class and a fund for investment in activity/adventure products.

On the sports side, construction of the new Lansdowne Road Stadium is now well underway and it is planned that the 50,000 seater stadium will open during 2010. Following the recent appointment of a Project Management team and a Design Team, detailed work on the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown is proceeding. Applications for funding under the 2008 Sports Capital Programme were invited in January last and over 1,450 applications have been received and are currently being assessed. The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme is also progressing well and €184m has been allocated to the programme under the NDP.

In the arts and culture sector, a new National Concert Hall will be developed on the existing site at Earlsfort Terrace. It is planned to initiate the PPP procurement competition very shortly, with a view to contracts being signed in 2009. The redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George's Dock is also progressing well, with the appointment of a jury for the design competition and the appointment of technical and financial advisors. The Wexford Festival Opera House is on schedule for completion in 2008, while the Gaiety Theatre project has been successfully completed. Progress is being made on the extensions to all of the main National Cultural Institutions. Projects under the ACCESS Programme are continuing to draw down funds which amount to €81 m over the course of the NDP. Details of the budget allocations under the National Development programme are listed below.