The FAI could make an annual profit of €2 million from using a new national stadium, the soccer organisation said yesterday.
Stating that a new stadium development was an "absolute must", the association's treasurer, Mr John Delaney, told an Oireachtas Committee that such a profit would represent a very good return on sales which were worth about €12.5 million. Such a stadium is likely to be built on the site of the existing rugby ground at Lansdowne Road.
The FAI made a submission to the committee yesterday shortly after the Minister for Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, told the Dáil that he was "more than ever convinced" that an additional stadium in Dublin was required.
However, Government backbencher Ms Fiona O'Malley said at the committee that she was "not enthusiastic" about plans to build a new stadium and pointed to the "wonderful national stadium" at Croke Park.
Responding, the FAI's acting general secretary, Mr Kevin Fahy, said any opening of the GAA stadium was "not for us to make".
Mr Fahy made a presentation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee of Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in which he called for the "final step" to be taken to create a "home for Irish football". With the FAI and IRFU set to provide €118.5 million for the stadium development, Mr Fahy said the plans were affordable.
Lansdowne Road emerged as the most likely site of any new stadium after a report for the FAI and the rugby body, the IRFU, ranked it as the least expensive of five possible locations in the Dublin area.
The choice of this option would rule out the site at Abbotstown, west Dublin, long championed by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The Government will receive a definitive report from the two sporting bodies on April 28th. It is expected to take a decision soon afterwards. The Lansdowne Road plan would cost the State €353 million over six years.
The cost of the other options range up to €397 million.
A €2 million profit would be in excess of the €1.5 million the association receives from the State every year. The association made a €2 million profit through the involvement of the Irish team at the World Cup last year, its first profit at the event.
Mr Delaney said the association was projecting a deficit this year of €500,000 and needed new sources of funding to develop the sport.
He said costs were increasing in line with an expansion of services, which saw the association's staff grow to 58 last year from 26 in 1997.
