Noonan calls for Ahern stadium statement after report

The Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan has called on the Taoiseach to make a statement on the cost of Stadium Ireland.

The Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan has called on the Taoiseach to make a statement on the cost of Stadium Ireland.

The call follows a report this morning saying the cost of the project may have been underestimated by as much as £100 million.

Staidum Ireland
Stadium Ireland costs may be out by £100m.

Documents obtained by RTÉ under the Freedom of Information Act showed the Department of Finance has doubts about the viability of private sector investment in the stadium.

Mr Noonan said it was time for the Taoiseach "to admit that his personal project was not viable and to instead pursue negotiations with the GAA on using Croke Park as our national stadium".

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Up until now it has been estimated Sports Campus Ireland will cost £550 million. But a Department of Finance memorandum seen by RTE suggests the cost of the Stadium alone may could add another £100 million to this figure.

The memorandum also suggests there will be other additional costs to be factored into the total price, including:

  • £200 million for moving the State Laboratories which currently occupy the proposed site at Abbotstown in Co Dublin;
  • M50 road improvements related to the stadium could cost as much as £12 million rather than the estimated £3 million;
  • In a seperate document both Dublin Bus and Iarnród Éireann have raised concerns about the cost of providing public transport to the stadium.

Meanwhile a poll in this morning's Irish Timesshows the public is evenly divided on whether to build a national stadium or spend the money on other sports facilities throughout the State.

The Irish TimesMRBI opinion poll showed that 47 per cent of voters say they support the building of some form of national stadium and sports campus.

Pádraig Collins

Pádraig Collins

Pádraig Collins a contributor to The Irish Times based in Sydney