Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the capital projects which had been planned by his Department, or with the assistance of funding from his Department, which will not be proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8523/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the major capital projects which will proceed in 2009 with money from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8522/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 80 together.

I would refer the Deputies to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 108 and 212 of 28 January 2009.

A number of landmark capital projects under the aegis of the Department are currently at various stages of progression, including the redevelopments of the National Theatre and the National Concert Hall, the development of the National Conference Centre and the development of a new Lansdowne Road Stadium. Progress on these landmark capital projects will continue in 2009.

In relation to the development of a National Sports Campus at Abbotstown, the prevailing difficult economic conditions has meant that no funding has been provided to date to advance the Phase I development in 2009. I am having discussions with the Minister for Finance to see what funding might be available to move forward with Phase I on a phased basis. I am also having discussions with the National Sports Campus Development Authority in this regard. In the short term, construction work has commenced on providing a headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport, involving the refurbishment of an existing building, to be ready for occupancy this year.