Angry sports chiefs insist State must pay out promised €120m in grants

SPORTS chiefs insisted last night the Government would still have to pay them €120 million worth of grants despite the climbdown on the National Stadium.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste meanwhile denied yesterday the coalition had been damaged by the decision not to go ahead with the ‘Bertie Bowl’ using taxpayers money

The GAA and the Football Association of Ireland said they expected the Government to honour promises made for their backing of the National Stadium project.

The Taoiseach promised both organisations a grant packages worth €60 million, broken down into €20 million per year for three years. But these grants are now in doubt as Sports Minister John O’Donoghue says all undertakings in relation to the National Stadium are under review given the changed circumstances.

The Department of Sport is examining all commitments that arose in the context of the National Stadium, a spokesman for the minister said.

Suggestions that payments will not be made is still speculation at this stage, the spokesman added.

But the GAA said as far as they are concerned the agreement still stood and it was not contingent on the stadium being developed.

“We got a formal commitment to funding which was totally unrelated to National Stadium development. The only commitment we were asked to give was that we would put 200,000 people in it,” a spokesman said.

Similarly, the FAI are still expecting to receive up to €60 million promised for ditching their Eircom Park proposal and weighing in behind the Abbotstown proposal.

“We’re not aware of any change in the status,” an FAI spokesman.

The GAA’s €60 million included €45 million for Croke Park, with the remainder to go towards regional developments.

The entire FAI €60 million was to go directly to clubs across the country.

The country’s three major sporting bodies are not pleased with the Government’s stadium U-turn.

The Irish Rugby Football Union said it was disappointed with the decision.

The GAA rejected the Taoiseach’s request that Croke Park be made available for the Euro 2008 football championships.

The FAI meets today to discuss its options following the setback, which effectively puts the organisation back in the same position as it was three years ago when it was searching for a permanent home.

Tánaiste Mary Harney denied claims her relationship with the Taoiseach has been damaged by the Stadium Ireland fiasco.

“There were other priorities I believe the money should be used on, but I believe the Government will not be damaged,” she said.

And the Taoiseach rejected suggestions of dissent amongst Fianna Fáil backbenchers over the decision. He insisted that if exchequer money was used to build an arena, public services would suffer.