Stadium plan unveiled

The government has established a feasibility study designed to provide Ireland with a sports stadium which would be the "pride of the country" according to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The announcement was made at Government Buildings yesterday afternoon after the Cabinet had given the project its blessing earlier in the morning.

Described as "A Stadium for the New Century" the basic concept agreed by the Government is for "a state-of-the-art facility capable of accommodating all key sports played in the island, especially Association Football, Athetics, Gaelic games and Rugby Union, as well as general entertainment and special events. The stadium should also be capable of accommodating major international sporting and other events as required".

The statement went on to suggest that the new stadium should be of "a design and quality that makes an inspirational statement about Ireland and the aspirations of its people as we enter the new century". It was stated that the new stadium would be located "on a large site capable of accommodating other structures, facilities and activities compatible with the overall concept. It is envisaged that the complex would involve an area of some 300 acres within reasonable reach of Dublin city with seating for up to 80,000".

The study will take into account a very high standard of both public and private transport, with links to the national and local rail systems, the motorway system as well as airport access. The completion of the study is expected to be available by July of next year.

A committee has already been put in place under the chairmanship of Derek Keogh, the former chief executive of Aer Rianta and present chairman of the Millennium Festivals Committee. The other members include Bill Attley, Brendan Foster, Phil Furlong, Tony Hanahoe, Tom Kiernan, Maeve Kyle, Syd Millar, Liam Mulvihill, Bernard O'Byrne, Julie O'Neill, John Power, Paddy Teahon, John Treacy, Michael Walsh and Donagh Morgan who will be secretary to the committee.

The Taoiseach pointed out that the stadium would be solely under the control of the Government, even though private money would be involved in the establishment of the complex.

He paid particular tribute to J P McManus, horse fancier and entrepreneur, who has thrown his financial muscle behind the project. The Taoiseach said that several other offers of financial help had come in, but the names of the people involved would not be named just yet. "What I want to make quite clear," he said, "is that the new stadium will remain totally under the control of the State and will be available to all sectors of the community.

"What we are aiming for is that we will have a stadium about which every Irish person can be proud. Private donations, expertise and help will be welcome but it will be a stadium for the people. It will cater for all sports, including international events," he said. This point was emphasised by the Minister for Sport, Dr Jim McDaid, who added that there were many European sporting events nowadays which required top-class facilities.

"I see no reason why we could not stage a European Cup soccer final or an athletics championships. The other countries in Europe are always looking for neutral venues and we in Ireland are very well placed to stage such important events," he said.

The Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, confirmed that financial support for the project would be forthcoming. "It might come from the exchequer, from the National Lottery or from private sources or from all three together but it can be done and we can be certain that if we put a package together we can realise a very important dream for Ireland."

The Taoiseach warned that this might well be the last opportunity for such a development in Ireland. "If it drifts it will mean that we will be left severely behind the rest of Europe and I don't think that we can afford that. The Government is confident that we can make this scheme work."