David Andrews
Question:782 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether an organisation (details supplied) wrote five times since January 1996, in relation to being considered for the proposed national conference centre. [15976/96]
Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.
David Andrews
Question:788 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether he received a letter from an organisation (details supplied); and if so, whether he invited a submission from this organisation in respect of the national conference centre. [15985/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 782 and 788 together. I confirm that following the failure of the open competition to produce a satisfactory proposal, the named organisation has written on a number of occasions since January seeking to be included in an alternative strategy, to secure a conference centre for Dublin under the present tourism operational programme. This strategy involves the possibility of a higher European Regional Development Fund rate which may apply to capital developments by public or similar bodies.
It is presumed that the Deputy's specific reference is to a letter written by the organisation in May 1996 indicating that it was proposing to develop a centre on a joint-venture basis with a named voluntary organisation and local authority. I decided to ask Bord Fáilte to assess the possible suitability of this proposal for inclusion in the alternative strategy. I understand that in the event Bord Fáilte received no details of the proposal within the given deadline, subsequently twice extended, and so were not in a position to carry out an assessment as requested. Consequently, there was no basis on which the organisation's proposal could be deemed eligible for inclusion in the alternative strategy.
David Andrews
Question:783 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether it was originally agreed that the national conference centre would be located in the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15977/96]
Síle de Valera
Question:796 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if consideration has been given to locating the national conference centre outside Dublin; the views, if any, he has on the location of the centre in the Shannon region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16004/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 796 together. The Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 agreed between the Irish Government and the European Commission in July 1994, proposed that with the support of the European Regional Development Fund, a large dedicated conference centre capable of handling up to 2,000 delegates be built in Dublin. Under the open tendering competition, which terminated last January, proposals were invited in relation to sites within ten kilometres distance from the city centre. The first EU Operational Programme for Tourism (1989-93) had designated Dublin as the most suitable location for a national conference centre. This view was endorsed in an independent study in 1991 on the feasibility of such a centre on the basis that Dublin, as the capital city, has entry points from most major markets by sea or air; a significantly greater concentration and range of suitable accommodation than other areas, and all the necessary support services for a major international conference centre.
David Andrews
Question:784 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether he was informed in writing or otherwise, by an organisation (details supplied) that it could effectively donate the national conference centre to the State. [15980/96]
There have been suggestions along lines referred to by the Deputy, including one made in writing to me from the organisation named by the Deputy. However, the objective is to provide in Dublin an international conference centre capable of enabling Ireland to increase its share of the lucrative, but very competitive, international market for conference business. Accordingly, the Government is seeking a developer who will take responsibility not only for construction but also for operational viability for any proposed national conference centre, a criterion reflected both in the terms of reference for the defunct open tendering competition, and subsequently in criteria being applied by Bord Fáilte in assessment for the purpose of identifying a possible alternative strategy to secure the project under the current operational programme.
David Andrews
Question:785 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an organisation (details supplied) has been informed by Bord Fáilte, without seeing its proposal, which has planning permission, that it has now been eliminated, effectively leaving the RDS proposal which does not have planning permission. [15981/96]
The organisation named by the Deputy was party to one of 13 applications considered under the open tendering competition for the development of a national conference centre which terminated last January because no applicant, including the organisation in question, was within the parameters set out in the project invitation document. The organisation in question subsequently came forward with a new proposal based on a joint venture with a named voluntary organisation and local authority. Bord Fáilte was asked to contact the organisation with a view to assessing suitability of this new proposal for inclusion in a possible alternative strategy, to secure a conference centre for Dublin under the present tourism operational programme. This strategy involves the possibility of the higher European Regional Development Fund rate which may apply to capital developments by public or similar bodies. It is understood that because the organisation was unable to confirm, in broad terms, outline details of the proposed joint venture, within a twice extended deadline set by Bord Fáilte, which is responsible for the assessment of individual proposals, the board was not in a position to proceed with the assessment process as requested. Advance planning permission is not a prerequisite for applying for grant assistance under any measure in the tourism operational programme. However, grant approvals in relation to all capital developments under the operational programme, including the conference centre project, are explicitly made subject, inter alia, to any necessary statutory planning permissions from the local authority.
David Andrews
Question:786 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if the 75 per cent grant referred to in January 1996 from the RDS was not agreed at that time and has still not been agreed by the EU. [15983/96]
David Andrews
Question:789 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether it was reported to the EU that only the RDS was interested in the proposed national conference centre, while numerous requests from an organisation (details supplied) were on file. [15986/96]
David Andrews
Question:790 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, when he announced in January 1996, the cancellation of the competition and that he was proceeding with the RDS plan for a national conference centre, the RDS has nothing more than a one page plan. [15988/96]
David Andrews
Question:795 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade when a decision will be taken by the Government on a national conference centre; if all negotiations have been completed with the EU; if the EU go-ahead has been given; if any studies are planned by the EU in respect of the issue; and if he will give an assurance that the national conference centre will be built by the time the EU funding deadline expires. [16003/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 786, 789, 790 and 795 together. The Deputy will recall my informing the House last January of the conclusion of the independent product management board that none of the applicants from stage 1 of the open tendering competition, including the organisation named by the Deputy, were prepared to participate in the development and operation of a national conference centre within the parameters set out in the project invitation document. This effectively terminated the competition.
The product management board recommended that the strategy be reconsidered with a view to developing an alternative, including the possibility of a public sector option. I accordingly decided, with Government approval, to ask Bord Fáilte to pursue further an earlier outline proposal from the RDS which as a voluntary society could possibly qualify for the higher aid rate available for public or similar bodies, but on the basis that their proposal would operate without annual subsidy from the Exchequer or any other external source such as licensed casino activity. Assessment of this proposal by Bord Fáilte, under the aegis of the product management board, is now, I understand, practically complete. Once confirmation of their conclusions is available I will consider them with a view to referral to Government for decision before formal submission, if appropriate, to the European Commission.
The European Commission must give final approval before any offer of grant aid for the purpose of developing the national conference centre can be made. Accordingly, the Commission is being kept briefed on the process including being made aware of a proposal from the organisation named by the Deputy for a joint venture with a named voluntary organisation and local authority, the subject of another reply today to the Deputy. No submission seeking approval for any specific proposal, inclusive of the related issue of aid rates, has yet been made to the Commission. I am not aware of any EU plans for studies in respect of the issue other than their requirement that any request for approval must be accompanied by an independent cost benefit analysis of the project. A timeframe for completion of the national conference centre project cannot be finalised until the approval process, inclusive of negotiations with the EU, are complete.
David Andrews
Question:787 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he intends to have safeguards in place whereby no director of Bord Fáilte can take up a position on the conference centre in order to ensure that no conflict of interest arises. [15984/96]
Bord Fáilte has confirmed that its code of conduct for board members includes a specific requirement, and procedures, for disclosure of information including inter alia business interests, professional relationships and directorships.
David Andrews
Question:791 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether he was informed in January 1996 that the overseas business managers who prepared a recent package for the RDS, stated in writing that the only conference centre proposal which can work is the O'Connell Street proposal and that they are now part of that consortium. [15990/96]
I have not been informed about views expressed by overseas business managers to the RDS.