Although knowing only sketchy details of the High-Point Rendel report on Stadium Ireland and Sports Campus Ireland, published yesterday, the Football Association of Ireland broadly welcomed Minister for Sport's announcement that the project would go ahead.
General secretary Brendan Menton, who travelled to Scotland on Wednesday to continue planning for the FAI's joint bid for the Euro 2008, said that "it was absolutely good news for the FAI."
Menton's positive reaction comes regardless of whether the Government finally opt for an 80,000 seat stadium or a 65,000 seat facility.
"No, it does not matter to us. A 65,000 seat stadium is adequate. That size would make it as big as Celtic Park and rank only second to Murrayfield amongst the facilities. In terms of time we'd like it built as quickly as possible but the point is that the Minister has said that it is going to be built and that is fantastic news from our point of view."
The cost of an 80,000 seat facility is estimated at €287 million and in addition to the Sports Science and Medicine Centre, Tennis Centre, Golf Academy, Velodrome and Offices the cost rises to €603.6 million. This figure is reduced by Private Sector Contributions of €161 million, €60.5 million of which has been pledged by Irish entrepreneur J.P McManus.
Tennis Ireland chief executive Des Allen, who recently headed a newly formed confederation of 65 Irish sporting bodies, guardedly welcomed the decision as there is repeated references in the report to review and possible cancellation of some aspects of the project.
"The federation of Irish Sports welcomes whole heartedly the decision to build the facilities in full and as originally proposed," said Allen. "But obviously it would be very disappointing for the 65 sports we represent to see reduction and disastrous to see the elimination of some of the facilities. To suggest reviews at this stage would appear to be stepping back."
The recommendation of the report is that the total cost should not exceed €444.4 million at 2001 prices. It also pointed out how vital a consensus was to allow the project move on.
