Written Answers. - National Sports Stadium.
Michael Bell
Question:
58
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if he will confirm that one of the consortiums in the running to build stadium and campus Ireland has withdrawn its bid; if he will list the firms that remain; if he will confirm that no contracts will be signed prior to the results of the cost overview being made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16194/01]
Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, or CSID, the company established last year by the Government to oversee the development of the sports campus Ireland project, has advertised in accordance with EU procurement directives, for bids to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the sports and commercial facilities to be provided at the Abbotstown site.
The competition for the stadium and sports facilities, excluding the aquatic and leisure centre, is at the outline bid stage, the closing date for which is 21 June next. Expressions of interest have also been received in relation to the compe tition for the commercial facilities and consideration of these will take place following receipt of the outline bids for the sports facilities. The designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining of the aquatic and leisure centre has been the subject of a separate tendering competition, now complete, and draft heads of agreement have already been signed with the preferred bidder.
CSID will report back to me, and through me to the Government. An independent cost overview, which is currently being commissioned by my Department, will enable Government to assess the future path of the project, and this report will be considered prior to any decision to enter into contracts with any preferred bidder for the stadium, sporting and commercial facilities.
CSID announced last week that it had completed a series of constructive meetings with five of the bidders pre-qualified to tender for the contract for the sports facilities, including stadium Ireland, planned for Abbotstown. The five bidders have all indicated that they will be participating in the bidding process. They are prospero – Australia – a consortium led by Bovis Lend Lease, a multinational construction and development company; sfx – USA – one of the world's largest venue operators and event promoters; Walter Group – Germany – a consortium of the leading concession companies in Germany; Multiplex – Australia – one of the developers of Stadium Australia, in partnership with Brown & Root – UK; and Dublin International Arena Limited – Dublin.
The sixth and final shortlisted consortium, Vinci Bouygues – France – has advised CSID that they will not be making a bid. However, I understand the consortium is reviewing this decision and has indicated that it will contact CSID later this week to confirm its position.
Question No. 59 answered with Question No. 16.
