Dublin's Lansdowne Road needs a long-awaited revamp

Ireland's long-running saga over the plans for the upgrading of Lansdowne Road looks to be finally at the end of the road.

The IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne presented the Republic's Minister for Sport John Donoghue with the latest and final proposal to restructure the famous venue.

Browne will deliver the findings from their consultants Ove Arup, who recommended a scaled-down version of the previous design which was for a 65,000 all-seater stadium.

The latest plan is a 50,000-seater stadium for football and rugby. It would see the whole site rebuilt but the pitch still keeping its north-south position.

The cost would be �176 million, almost half of the original proposal.

Both the IRFU and the FAI are hoping that the latest proposals meet with Government approval.

It has been almost five years since the Republic's Government first mooted the idea of a national stadium but hopes have been dashed on several occasions.

At present Lansdowne Road can cater for a capacity of 47,000 for rugby internationals with both terraces in use for standing only.

But, under Fifa legislation, it means that the Republic of Ireland can only seat 22,000 for football internationals with the temporary seating on the terracing now prohibited.

A speedy reply would be welcomed by both sports, particularly as the FAI have already talked about moving to England to play their home matches for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

Ireland, meanwhile, are due to stage two games in the 2007 Rugby World Cup which is being hosted by France.