The Government will decide the future of the national stadium and sports campus proposal in the autumn after independent consultants complete a detailed examination of its costs and management.
The consultants will not only report on the costs of the existing plan but will advise the Government on possible savings to be made by scaling down the planned 80,000-seat stadium or other elements of the project.
The Cabinet yesterday approved wide-ranging terms of reference for the consultants, agreed in talks between Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats. As well as costs, the consultants will review "the overall approach and contracting strategy" of the company driving the project, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd (CSIDL).
They will also assess the benefits of the project including transport, road access improvements and other infrastructure.
CSIDL last night pledged to help the consultants and expressed satisfaction that the tendering process, due to be completed on June 21st, would continue. It emphasised that the swimming pool complex at Abbotstown would proceed and it would ensure it would be in place in time for the Special Olympics in 2003.
While the swimming complex will proceed, no further contracts will be agreed until the outcome of the overview. This will not necessarily change the projected time-scale, as contracts were not due to be signed until late October anyway.
The consultants are expected to be chosen in June and will have three months to complete their work at a cost believed to be just over £100,000. The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, will select them after what is expected to be a short tendering process.
The results of the outline bid process currently under way - in which six consortia are to bid for the contracts to design, build, finance and operate all or part of the project - will be given to the consultants to help them advise on total costs. They will also factor in the costs of relocating existing facilities and access infrastructure.
They will advise on the costs of each separate component, thus facilitating any effort to reshape the project by dropping or scaling down elements of it. They will examine the likely operating costs and revenues of the project once built, "and the likely net impact on the Exchequer".
The consultants will work to a steering group to be composed of senior civil servants.
The Government could reconsider the project in September if the review begins soon and stays within the three-month timescale.
Both Fianna Fail and Progressive Democrats sources expressed satisfaction with yesterday's agreement on the review, welcoming the scaling down of tensions between the Government parties on the issue. However, there remains a stark contrast between Fianna Fail enthusiasm and PD scepticism over the project.
The PD Minister of State, Mr Robert Molloy, told the Dail last night that, while divisions arose in every coalition government, the Taoiseach and Tanaiste had reached an agreed position on how to proceed.