Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the development of the National Sports Campus is still part of his plans in view of the recent granted planning permission to the National Sports Campus Development Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32315/09]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made on the National Sports Campus Development Project; the total cost of this development; if the project will be in place to take advantage of the build up to the London Olympics 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32891/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 79 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 in the medium term taking into consideration the current difficult economic constraints. Notwithstanding these constraints, I am pleased to advise that a planning application by the NSCDA for Phase One of the National Sports Campus, has recently been obtained. The planning permission includes provision for

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.

The National Sports Campus facilities, when completed, will provide a much needed range of training and competitive facilities for our finest sports persons. Through the National Aquatic Centre an excellent sports facility in the development of swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo has already been provided.

I intend to continue discussions with the Authority to examine options for the delivery of the project in the medium term and with a view to seeing what might be achievable in time to capitalise on the proximity of Ireland to the London Olympics in 2012. In the meantime, the National Aquatic Centre, has been actively promoting the Centre as a venue for pre-Olympic and Paralympic training camps for international teams. The response to date has been encouraging, particularly given the Centre's reputation as one of Europe's foremost 50 metre swimming pool facilities.

From 2004, when the Government decided to approve the phased delivery of a sporting campus at Abbotstown, to the end of 2008, 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 Laboratory as the new headquarters for the FAI, which was completed in 2007.

Since then and up to the present juncture, an amount of €3.93 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 through the planning application stage. Refurbishment work costing €1.76 million capital on the former Central Meat Control Laboratory has recently been completed and will provide a headquarters for the Irish Institute of Sport.

The provision of further funding for the National Sports Campus project will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010.