Sport: The Department of Sport is to spend over €100 million next year on the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road and the development of a new national sports campus at Abbotstown as part of a 29 per cent increase in funding.
Sports and recreational spending is to rise from €228 million to €296 million.
A total of €76 million has been allocated for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. The Government is committed to contributing €191 million to the venture.
Minister for Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue said while it was not possible to estimate the length of time the project would take, he was hopeful it would be completed by the end of 2009.
The Government has also set aside €32.2 million for the development of Sports Campus Ireland, which will cost €120 million when completed.
The initial funding will provide for pitches and support facilities for rugby, soccer and Gaelic games, with shared core facilities including accommodation, a fitness area and gym facilities.
The project will eventually see a national sports research facility on the campus, although the development is far less ambitious than the Campus Stadium Ireland plan which was abandoned once the €1 billion-plus potential cost of the project emerged.
The large increase in funding on national sports facilities accompanies a cut of 22 per cent in funding for other sports facilities and bodies, falling from €62.7 million to €49 million.
Spending on tourism promotion and services will rise by 9 per cent next year, with most of the increase being concentrated on product development and promotion.