Jimmy Deenihan
Question:52 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the present Government policy regarding the provision of a national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22766/02]
Ceisteanna – Questions (Resumed). Priority Questions. - National Conference Centre.
As I informed the House on 22 October last, in response to Question No. 119, my Department is currently undertaking an assessment of the case for the provision of a national conference centre and how it might be achieved. I hope to be in a position to take the matter to Government for further direction shortly.
My Department's assessment is being carried out in light of the Government's stated commitment, as set out in the agreed programme, to ensure the construction of a state-of-the-art national conference centre. The context for this commitment is that conference business is such an important and valuable element of the Irish tourism product. It was worth an estimated €169 million to the economy in 2000. The number of overseas conference visitors in 2000 at 113,000, which is the latest figure available, represents almost a 200% increase on 1993 figures and underpins the substantial development of Ireland's stock of conference facilities over the same period.
Does the Minister believe it is necessary to have a further report in view of the fact that we have had two reports commissioned on the provision of a national conference centre, the Indecon report in 1995 and the PricewaterhouseCoopers report? Is another report needed to convince the Minister and the Government that the conference centre is essential?
It is estimated that there are 4,000 conferences in Europe every year and Dublin gets about 40 of the smaller ones. The ideal conference centre would have a capacity of 2,000 to 3,000 as in the international conference centre in Birmingham which brings €100 million to that city every year.
Will the Minister indicate if there is a commitment on this and if it will be honoured? If it is due to start, what is a possible starting date for the centre to be built?
An agreement was reached between the Government and Treasury Holdings in regard to the proposal at Spencer Dock where planning permission was granted for development of residential accommodation and a conference centre. Progress has been made on the residential aspect but what is the position in regard to the proposed conference centre?
With respect to the original Spencer Dock proposal, the contract in regard to the grant offer of €33 million under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 terminated last year. That sum of European Regional Development Fund moneys is no longer relevant. It was not lost to the country, as I understand it was transferred to other programmes.
Deputy Deenihan raised the question of where we go from here and whether or not a further report is necessary. I agree that one can have a surfeit of reports and many of them gather cobwebs and dust. It is necessary to get on with projects such as this rather than commissioning endless reports, departmental committees and so on, but at this point it is vital that any decisions we make are guided by the most up-to-date information possible. Circumstances have changed over the past number of years in regard to this business, as they probably have in regard to most others. It is also important that we look at where Ireland stands now, in terms of benefiting from the international conference market. In deciding on the way forward, it is important that we establish if there is a robust business case for the centre. My gut feeling is that there is such a case. I do not intend to have this going on forever and hope to have the assessment on the current position completed in the near future. It will then be necessary for me to go to Government with a recommendation.
I agree with Deputy Deenihan that there appears to be enormous potential for growth in this area. If we were able to succeed in bringing in 113,000 people without a national conference centre it seems clear that we should be able to develop that business considerably, provided that we put the centre in place. I assure him that we are not raking over old coals in respect of the previous reports but we are trying to assess precisely what the current position is, with the intention of coming to an early decision.
Is the Minister aware that both reports indicated that a national conference centre would bring about 30,000 extra visitors if it was located in Dublin and that there is great potential for repeat visitors?
Is the Minister considering another location outside Dublin? I understand he has been approached by the National Event Centre in Killarney to consider it as a possible venue for the future.
My understanding is that in order for the conference centre to maximise its potential it would have to be situated in a large population area. While I would naturally like to see the regions, particularly Killarney, benefit, I am afraid that the examination is confined to Dublin at this point.