The Government has postponed a decision on whether to go ahead with a national stadium and sports campus until after Christmas amid continuing differences between the Taoiseach and the Tβnaiste on the issue.
Several Ministers had expected the issue to go to Cabinet next Tuesday after the final version of the report on the project from independent consultants High Point Rendel was presented to the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, last week. However, a Government spokesman said yesterday that the matter was "not ready" for decision.
The lack of readiness is due to the unresolved differences between the Government parties on the matter. The Taoiseach and Dr McDaid have both recently restated their commitment to building the stadium. However, the Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, has indicated she does not see it as a priority for spending at this stage.
She restated her reservations about the project on Thursday night, saying the Government would have to "reflect on what was in the report".
The consultants' report is understood to contain some criticism of the level of business planning within Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd, the company driving the project.
It also estimates that the costs of the full project will be considerably higher than was originally estimated.
Government sources said yesterday that the Tβnaiste's reluctance to spend money on the project in the short term is not inconsistent with the project going ahead.
They point out that should the Cabinet confirm shortly that the project will go ahead, the first major spending on it will not be incurred until 2003.
Money has already been committed to the swimming pool and aquatic centre complex at the Abbotstown site, where construction work is underway to complete this element of the project in time for the 2003 Special Olympics.