Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

333 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the amount of EU tourism fund grant available for the development of a national convention centre; the number of applications received in relation to this development; and when he will be in a position to make a decision in relation to this development. [22869/97]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

The new tender procedure for a national conference centre is being organised by Bord Fáilte under the aegis of the independent management board for product development, and is being conducted in full compliance with the EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, concerning the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts.

The full tender procedure notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 13 September 1997. The notice was also published in the Irish daily newspapers on 16 September. It invited applicants to submit requests to participate in the tender procedure by 5 p.m. on Monday, 20 October. Bord Fáilte received 12 responses within the deadline set for receipt of applications to tender. On 31 October 1997, Invitation to Tender documentation was dispatched by Bord Fáilte to seven qualified applicants, six of whom confirmed their intentions to submit full tenders before the deadline set, 14 November, for so doing. These six applicants, who will be responsible for providing a site for the proposed development, have three months to submit their tenders, that is by the end of January next year, following which the tenders will be assessed. The management board has estimated that it will be late March before they have completed their deliberations.

Under the terms of the tourism operational programme, the agreement of the Government and the EU Commission on foot of a cost-benefit analysis conducted in accordance with Community law will then be required in respect of any final selection made.

The project will be funded by the applicant with assistance to a maximum of 33 million ECU at an aid rate of up to 50 per cent, which may be made available to the private sector under the operational programme. The European Commission has, however, agreed that, in the event of a public or similar body being successful in the tender procedure, this aid rate could be reviewed by the national monitoring committee for the programme, subject again to a maximum of 33 million ECU. The maximum aid rate which could be made available to an applicant in this category is 75 per cent.