Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 3

Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.

Ivor Callely

Question:

79 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress, if any, of the proposed national conference centre; the level of EU finding which will be available for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15552/99]

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

The tender procedure organised by Bord Fáilte, under the direction of the independent management board for product development and conducted in accordance with EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, culminated in June 1998 in the selection of the proposal submitted by Spencer Dock International Convention Centre Limited, to develop the conference centre, with European Regional Development Fund assistance, at a site in Dublin's docklands.

Under the terms of the operational programme, decisions on grant applications in respect of amounts at or above 15 million ECU must be made with the agreement of the Government and the EU Commission on foot of a cost-benefit analysis conducted in accordance with community law. This cost-benefit analysis, which was favourable towards the project, was undertaken by independent consultants.

In September 1998 the Government agreed to the making of a submission to the EU Commission recommending formal approval for a 33 million ECU grant towards the cost of developing the project. The European Commission examined the grant application and concluded that, in prin ciple, the conference centre justifies 33 million ECU of European Regional Development Fund support, subject to compliance of the tender procedure with public procurement rules and compatibility of certain proposed preferential tax reliefs with EU state aids rules.

The Commission has since examined a third party procedural complaint and decided to close the case in relation to this complaint. Meanwhile, the Department of Finance is pursuing the issue of the taxation regime applying to the development, while the developers have themselves being pursuing an application for planning permission from Dublin Corporation for the project.

On the basis of the most recent projected timetables for the planning and construction of the development, I have now made a formal submission to the Commission, on behalf of the Government, requesting an extension to the time limits for implementation of decisions on grant assistance under the operational programme for tourism grant from 31 December 2000 to 30 June 2003. A decision on this matter is awaited from the Commission.