Sir, - It was with mounting incredulity that I read through Paddy Teahon's article on the costs of the Bertie Bowl in your edition of April 28th. It showed what is the real problem with this project and the Government: a complete inability or unwillingness to calculate the real final cost for the project. Is this because they know that the Dail and taxpayers will not pay a bill that will run to at least £1,000 per taxpayer? Let's take a closer look at his six "facts".
Fact 1: "A £350 million project, not a £1 billion project." This ignores the cost of: Transferring the existing State Laboratories from the site;
The grants to the FAI, GAA and probably IRFU.
Construction cost inflation rates, especially labour. These doubled the final costs both for the Stade de France and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The value of the site itself if used for other purposes.
The cost of the additional road, rail and metro facilities required to service the stadium. If an inner-city site or sites were used, empty evening rush-hour trains, buses and road lanes could transport fans against the traffic flow.
Fact 2: "This project is not being built at the cost of anything else." This is utter nonsense. Of course the £1 billion it will cost can be diverted to hospital-building, classroom-building and sports club development.
Fact 3: "Investment in infrastructure is being made because it is necessary, not because of the campus." The Dublin Transportation Plan issued last year contains plans for a metro and additional rail development. What the project will have to pay for is the extra metro, rail and road network required to service the site.
Fact 4: "Support for the FAI, GAA and IRFU is necessary even if we never develop the campus." Here we get to the Kafkaesque nature of the development. The FAI currently pays to use Lansdowne Road, but now it will be paid to use the Bertie Bowl! If the FAI and IRFU use Croke Park, the Government will need to pay less towards its development.
Fact 5: "The investment in the Campus, together with the support for the major sporting bodies, will aid rather than undermine the commitment to sport in communities." Will the running costs of the project not prove to be a drain on the Department of Tourism and Sport? Just look at the disaster in Sydney. Will this not reduce funding for other sports? Could £1 billion be better spent? Just ask all the sports federations.
Fact 6: "This is a Government project, based on Government decisions." Mr Teahon says he is committed to value for money and accountability. Where is the value for money in building two massive stadiums which will be filled, between them, six times a year. Where is the value for money in locating such facilities in the suburbs where extra dedicated transport facilities must be put in place? As for Government control, Paddy Teahon's use of a cost figure of £350 million shows that the more realistic, now widely accepted figure of £1 billion has not been included in any budget vote.
Come on Paddy, get real and deal with the real facts. - Yours, etc.,
Leo Gibson, Chairman, West Dublin Action Group, Deerpark Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15.