At least four private sector groups show interest in stadium plan

There have been at least four private sector expressions of interest in building a national stadium in Abbotstown, Co Dublin. The level of interest displayed seems to indicate that the project might still be built.

The more ambitious "Bertie Bowl" project, which was to be heavily funded by the Exchequer, was dropped by the Government in September in what was seen as an embarrassing climbdown by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.

The Government then sought expressions of interest from the private sector, with a deadline of noon yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism said there had been a "significant level of interest" in the project but that no further comment would be made until next week. She would not say how many submissions in total had been received.

Four were confirmed last night. They were from a group including Irish property company Treasury Holdings; a group including Irish property group Dunloe Ewart plc; a group including the British construction firm Laing O'Rourke; and a group involving the London- based sports management company, IMG.

One source said he knew of another entity, from Europe, which was to make a submission. The IRFU and the FAI met four consortiums to discuss the project, and it is understood they have given general commitments to use Abbotstown for their larger fixtures if it was developed. Both organisations continue to look at other possible options.

The consortium in which Dunloe is the lead developer has submitted a proposal for a 55,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof which could be used for sports fixtures and other events. It would expect to get capital allowances, or tax breaks, from the 30- to 40-acre development and would expect it to revert to State ownership after 35 years.

The Dunloe consortium includes the Bruce Shaw Partnership; Paul Jorgensen, a major architect from the US; engineers URS Ireland; and O'Muire Smyth Architects. Mr John Smyth, a brother of Dunloe chairman, Mr Noel Smyth, is a partner in O'Muire Smyth.

Treasury Holdings is in a consortium which includes Sisk; Merrill Lynch Financial and Capital Markets; Arups; and Mr Peter Bacon, economic consultant. The architect for Croke Park, Mr Des McMahon, is also involved.

"This is a very serious proposal and the result of a lot of work," said Mr Dermot O'Dwyer, of TTC International, co-ordinators of the project. With a 65,000-seater stadium they suggest that a sustainable mixed-use development could be built, including community, leisure, sporting, and residential/commercial buildings.

The UK construction group Laing O'Rourke is in another consortium.

IMG is involved in the Wembley Stadium project.