Ruairí Quinn
Question:23 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9423/98]
Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.
Ivor Callely
Question:24 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the likely date for the national conference centre project to obtain formal approval by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11235/98]
Liz McManus
Question:26 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reasons for deferring a decision on tenders for the proposed national conference centre; the implications, if any, for EU funding of the deferment; when it is expected that the tendering process will be completed; when work will commence; when it will be available for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11242/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 24 and 26 together. The tender procedure for a national conference centre is being organised by Bord Fáilte under the direction 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 co-ordination 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, and in the Irish media on 16 September. It invited applicants to submit requests to participate in the tender procedure by Monday, 20 October. Bord Fáilte received 12 responses within this 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.
The closing deadline for receipt of tenders was at 5 p.m. on Monday 2 February. Bord Failte received full tender submissions from five consortia, and immediately commenced its assessment of these submissions. I understand that at the management board's meeting of 14 April 1998, the board considered these assessments and concluded that the tenders submitted were not such as to enable it to make a recommendation at that point in time. The process has now proceeded to the "negotiated procedure" stage provided for in Article 7 of the directive, to be conducted by an independent team of technical experts. The intention was that these experts would report to the board and provide it with the necessary technical advice to make a recommendation.
As the House will already know, one of the tenderers has sought a judicial review of the decision to go to negotiated procedure and, as this is now sub judice, I cannot comment any further in relation to this aspect. In such circumstances, it is difficult for the board to set a timeframe for finalising their deliberations.
As to procedures, the tender process is being organised by Bord Fáilte and the independent management board. 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 final date for taking account of expenditure for projects assisted under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 is 31 December 2000, as defined by Article 5 of Commission Decision C(94) 1972 of 29 July 1994, subject to paragraph 4.6.7 of the Community Support Framework 1994-1999. This paragraph states,inter alia, that “at the request of the Member State, duly made before expiry of time limits and supported by information establishing the justification for such a change, the Commission services may extend the time limits by not more than one year. If the extension requested is for more than one year, a formal Commission decision is required. No expenditure incurred after the end date, as extended where appropriate, may be taken into consideration for the grant of assistance from the Structural Funds”.
A specific timescale for commencement or completion of the National Conference Centre project, or its subsequent availability for use, cannot be determined until the proposal has been formally approved by the Government and the European Commission, and matters such as planning permission are in place.