National Stadium ‘will cost taxpayer €235m’

THE Government was told yesterday it could have a National Stadium for as little as €235 million of taxpayers’ money, under a plan put forward by the rugby and football authorities.

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue said he was convinced of the need for a National Stadium in the country, but he has yet to see a full copy of the consultants’ report commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union and Football Association of Ireland.

Redeveloping Lansdowne Road would cost just over €350m and developing a stadium at Abbotstown would cost almost €400m, according to the report summary.

The IRFU and FAI have pledged to contribute €118.5m of the bill for the 65,000-seater stadium from advance ticket sales and corporate box revenue. To tempt the Government further, the IRFU and FAI say the project would bring in €71m in VAT receipts and generate up to €100m through employment and taxes.

And Mr O’Donoghue said last night that JP McManus’s €63.5m donation to the National Stadium could still go towards the cost of construction of the stadium.

Speaking on Newstalk 106 radio station, Mr O’Donoghue said although no clarity had been brought to the situation, he would talk to Mr McManus once the other pieces of the jigsaw were in place.

“It would be my intention then to have further discussions with Mr McManus regarding his intentions,” he said.

Although Mr O’Donoghue said there was a compelling case for a new stadium, he wants to see further details and get clarification on certain points from the consultants.

Mr O’Donoghue said the study would be analysed before the proposals were brought to Cabinet for a decision.

The feasibility study, conducted by independent consultants Ove Arup, assessed five sites and analysed construction costs and funding requirements.

Lansdowne Road appears to remain the favoured option of the IRFU and comes in as the cheaper option, but Abbotstown is believed to be the Government’s choice.