Government rules out extra Lansdowne funding

SPORTS Minister John O’Donoghue last night ruled out further Government funding for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road after plans showed that the stadium will cost €70 million more then estimated.

The new 50,000-seater stadium to be used primarily by Ireland's rugby and soccer teams was originally to cost €292 million but has been upgraded by the FAI and IRFU to a superior €365m facility. Although he welcomed the new plans, Mr O'Donoghue said the Government would not be providing any more than its original commitment to the stadium's redevelopment a total of €191m.

"I do welcome the new design. I do welcome the FAI and the IRFU's commitment, but the taxpayers' commitment must remain the same," he said.

"Naturally enough I could not increase the Government's contribution beyond what I had originally committed without going back to Government to reconsider the entire issue again and that is not something which I wish to do."

To protect its investment the Government has also entered into a deed of covenant with the FAI and the IRFU stipulating the terms under which State funding has been provided.

Philip Browne, chairman of the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, said the project's architects, HOK Sport, had built in extra facilities.

"This is a very different stadium to the one which we looked at in our original feasibility study," he said.

"They have also built in a great deal more facilities than we originally had hoped for. This in turn has given us a wider range of funding opportunities."

As part of the additional facilities, some 10,000 seats will be set aside on the second tier for premium ticket holders while the third tier will cater for around 1,300 corporate visitors.

Overall, the futuristic design will use translucent materials all around the ground to reduce the impact on the area by reflecting light off the building.

While an application for planning permission will be made in December, it could take up to a year to finalise.

The local residents' association in the exclusive Dublin 4 area could be a major hurdle to securing permission for the building. However, it is hoped construction could begin in early 2007 with a completion date in 2009.