Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

354 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the reason for the delay in approving the funding of the proposed national convention centre for Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the probable 57 month lead-in time for planning, tender and construction which means that if approval is not granted within the next three months EU deadlines for funding cannot be met; if he will give details of the current situation in relation to an objection to the Government's decision that a particular non-profit making body be invited to submit plans, based on an enhanced EU grant level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8368/97]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

The present position in relation to proposals to develop a national conference centre in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, is that following the failure of the open tendering competition to produce an acceptable private sector proposal, an alternative strategy was pursued whereby Bord Fáilte, under the aegis of the independent management board for product development, examined an outline proposal from the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) which, as a voluntary body, is potentially eligible for consideration for a higher rate of capital assistance normally reserved under the tourism OP for public and similar bodies.

Upon completion of its examination of the RDS proposal, Bord Fáilte, on the recommendation of the management board, commissioned an independent cost-benefit analysis which is required under the tourism OP in the case of all large projects. This was undertaken by an experienced UK consultancy firm who were selected by Bord Fáilte on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure. The results were favourable to the RDS proposal.

The Government, having taken into account a number of factors including the recommendations of the management board and Bord Fáilte, and the results of the cost benefit analysis, agreed on 5 November last to make a submission to the European Commission, recommending formal approval of the proposed development by the RDS. The Government is recommending approval of 75 per cent capital grant aid subject to the existing financial provision for such a project in the current tourism OP. The proposal has been submitted to the European Commission for approval, as required under the OP for projects of this scale, and the Commission's response is now awaited. The question of the length of time required to examine an application of such a scale is one more properly addressed to the European Commission but I can assure the Deputy that I have spared no effort in urging a speedy response to the application.

I am aware that a complaint has been made to the Commission but to date I have had no formal notification of such from the Commission.

A specific timescale for commencement or completion of the national conference centre project cannot be determined until the proposal has been formally approved by the European Commission, and matters such as planning permission are in place. There is, however, no reason at this stage to believe that the project cannot be developed under the tourism OP in accordance with the permissible timeframe.