The public is evenly divided on whether to build a national stadium or spend the money on other sports facilities throughout the State, according to an Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
Some 47 per cent of voters say they support the building of some form of national stadium and sports campus, with 45 per cent saying the money should be spent on sports facilities around the State. A further 8 per cent say they have no opinion.
The 47 per cent who want a national stadium and sports campus comprise 27 per cent who say they favour the project going ahead only if costs are greatly reduced from present estimates and 20 per cent who favour the current proposals. The Government says the current project will cost £550 million but opponents claim it will top £1 billion.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, bowed last month to pressure from his PD coalition partners to commission an independent assessment of the costs of his ambitious plan for a major stadium and sports campus at Abbotstown, Co Dublin. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has said she will oppose the project if it costs £1 billion. Mr Ahern has said he is willing to consider reducing its scale depending on the findings of the independent cost assessment, which is expected to be considered by the Cabinet in the autumn.
Support for the existing plan or a smaller-scale stadium is strongest among young people and among men. Ironically, the poll suggests it is also stronger among supporters of the Progressive Democrats than those of any other party in spite of the PDs' high-profile questioning of the project.
Analysis of the PD vote in opinion polls must be viewed with caution as the party's low rating results in only a very small sample being questioned. However, of those stating they would vote PD, some 55 per cent said they wanted the current plan or a modified version of it, compared to 50 per cent of Fianna Fail supporters, 45 per cent of Labour supporters and just 38 per cent of those who say they will vote for Fine Gael.
The poll was conducted last week among a national quota sample of 1,000 electors at 100 sampling points in all constituencies throughout the Republic.