Sports minister convinced national stadium needed

SPORTS Minister John O’Donoghue, said last night he remains absolutely convinced of the need for a national stadium in Ireland.

Mr O’Donoghue was speaking after he accepted a provisional report yesterday from the IRFU and the FAI outlining their preferred choice for the location of a stadium.

The minister said the two bodies had made a compelling case for a new stadium. He revealed he would now be bringing their proposals to Cabinet for a decision.

No timescale on a Government decision on the matter has been outlined.

Representatives from the IRFU and the FAI said the feasibility report they carried out for the Government looked at four different potential locations for a new stadium.

These are Abbotstown, Lansdowne Road, Newland’s Cross and the site of the former Irish Glass Bottle plant in Ringsend.

Both the IRFU and FAI declined to say which option they would prefer, saying the matter was now in Government hands.

However, Philip Browne of the IRFU said it would be possible to build a 65,000-seat stadium at Lansdowne Road.

There are certain difficulties involved in the Lansdowne Road project.

However, these are thought not to be insurmountable. There are a many who would favour the redevelopment of the existing stadium on the basis of its central location and the fact that it is served by a rail line.

Earlier the minister said the nett cost of building a 65,000-seat National Stadium would be between €353million and €397million.

This figure is reported to exclude the €118.5million the IRFU and FAI have agreed to contribute.