Michael Noonan
Question:60 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the total costs which have accrued to date in respect of the digital media district project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24824/01]
Written Answers. - Departmental Projects.
Michael Noonan
Question:61 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the persons appointed to the board of the digital media district project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24825/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 61 together.
The total value of expenditure to date on the digital media district project, now known as the Digital Hub, amounts to £43.5 million, 55.2 million.
This is broken down between capital expenditure of £41.3 million, 52.4 million, which was for the purchase of property for the hub, and current expenditure of £2.2 million, 2.7 million, the bulk of which was for operating expenses of Digital Media Development Ltd., the company set up to oversee the development of the hub.
In addition, there has been capital expenditure of £15 million, 19 million for the Media Lab Europe project in line with its establishment agreement, and current expenditure of £1million, 1.27 million for collaborative research between Media Lab Europe and Irish universities.
The board of Digital Media Development Ltd. (DMDL), which was appointed by the Taoiseach in April 2000, comprises: Paddy Teahon (chairperson), Paul Kavanagh, Dan Flinter, Peter Cassells, Jackie Harrison, John Fitzgerald, Don Thornhill and Paul McGuinness.
In addition to approving funds for property purchase and operational expenses for the project, the Government, in its decision of April 2001, also directed that a development plan be prepared by the board of DMDL.
The DMDL development plan for the hub is almost complete and, subject to approval by the Government liaison committee which monitors the project, is expected to be launched by DMDL in December. It will include, inter alia, proposals for the development of the properties including private sector investment and, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, a strategy to attract digital content enterprises to the area.
Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 42.