Works at City Gate, the new Parliament and the theatre are on target and budget, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt said during a visit this morning.

The €80 million project, which includes the building of a new 'open' theatre, Parliament and entrance to the city, is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

He said he was very satisfied with the progress – Parliament’s sub-structure has been completed – the ground floor steel structure is in place and work on the first floor is currently ongoing. The theatre area has been cleaned out and levelled.

Dr Gatt said this had been an example of how to conduct such a major project with the least inconvenience for the people.

He said that 20 per cent of the budget has been used so far but pointed out that this did not necessarily mean that 20 per cent of project has been concluded.

Asked how the project was going to be financed, Dr Gatt told journalists to refer the question to the Finance Minister. “I’m not really involved in that aspect,” he said.

Asked about the future of the Tritons Fountain, Dr Gatt said that the report on its restoration still had to be concluded but it seemed there was so much damage caused to it that its restoration would be a much bigger job than had been forecast.