Vol. 537 No. 4
52 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the latest position regarding the development of a national conference centre; when there is likely to be a national conference centre, having regard to its importance for the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16205/01]
As stated in my reply to Question No. 92 on 1 May 2001, in relation to the proposed national conference centre at Spencer Dock, Bord Fáilte has confirmed that, as no major construction work had taken place on the site by January 2001, the grant contract with the developers formally terminated in March 2001.
Given that the original research that influenced the concept of such a centre is almost ten years old, Bord Fáilte has now commissioned new research, to be completed within the next month, on the international conference market and the optimum positioning of Ireland within that market. I await the outcome of this research before bringing recommendations to Government on the issue of a national conference centre.
