Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if any of the proposed sports development programme at Abbotstown is to proceed in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16510/09]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made to date in relation to discussions between his Department and the National Sports Campus Development Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16356/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost of the Abbotstown National Stadium Project for each year since 1999 to date in 2009; the breakdown of same by year; if he will include costs not associated with the National Aquatic Centre but accrued by this project during the period 1999 to 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16351/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to respond to Questions Nos. 84, 95 and 103 together.

As I have previously stated in response to questions on the overall development of the national sports campus project, I have been engaged in discussions with the NSCDA as to how we might best advance matters during 2009 and following years taking into consideration the current difficult economic constraints. While it is not possible at this time for the project to proceed in accordance with the original schedule and target completion date, I have nonetheless decided to sanction the lodging of a planning application by the NSCDA for Phase 1 of the National Sports Campus, which includes provision of

- a multi-sport National Indoor Training Centre to provide world-class training facilities for more than 20 sports;

- Sports Science and Medical facilities; accommodation for sportsmen and women;

- all-weather synthetic pitches for community recreational access; and

- a National Field Sports Training Centre catering for Rugby, Soccer, Gaelic Games and Hockey.

Throughout the planning process, I intend to keep the situation under review and to continue discussions with the Authority to examine options for the delivery of the project going forward.

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 an excellent sports facility in the development of swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo has already been provided.

The former State Laboratory building has been refurbished and now provides the headquarters of the FAI.

Refurbishment work on the former Central Meat Control Laboratory is nearing completion and will provide a headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport.

In order to address the question of the issue of costs associated with the broader project since 1999 to date, it is necessary to outline the historical background. As I have explained in an earlier response to a Deputy's question, the concept of a sports campus at Abbotstown emerged from the 1999 PricewaterhouseCoopers feasibility study "A Stadium for a New Century." In January 2000 the Government adopted the study and decided to proceed with the development of Sports Campus Ireland at Abbotstown with Stadium Ireland as its centrepiece. At this time the Government also decided to build the National Aquatic Centre to be ready for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in June 2003. The National Aquatic Centre, the first element of the Campus, was completed on time and within budget at a cost of €62.5 million and was opened in March 2003.

The Government subsequently decided in January 2004 to proceed with the development of Lansdowne Road as a 50,000 capacity stadium and at the same time also approved the phased delivery of a sporting campus at Abbotstown to include training, sports science, medical and administrative facilities. From 2004 to the end of 2008, therefore, the combined total of both capital and current expenditure on the National Sports Campus was €19.2 million. Of that amount, some €7.3 million capital was spent on the refurbishment of the former State Laboratories as the new headquarters for the FAI, which was completed within budget in November 2007. Since then and up to the present juncture, an amount of €2.6 million capital has been incurred in developing the design for the Phase 1 facilities as provided for in the Development Control Plan prepared for the National Sports Campus and progressing these plans to planning application stage. A budget of €1.7 million capital has been provided for the refurbishment of the former Central Meat Control Laboratory to provide a permanent headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport. The renovation of the former State Laboratories and Central Meat Control Laboratory form part of the NSCDA's strategy of maintaining and refurbishing the existing facilities and buildings on the Abbotstown site for use by the wider sporting community in conjunction with the development of sports facilities.