I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 90 and 99 together.
On 7 July last, I announced that three of the four candidates who had submitted expressions of interest in the provision of a national conference centre in the Dublin area had been short-listed to proceed to the next stage of the competition. As required, each short-listed consortium proposed an acceptable site in the Dublin area.
As I have explained to the House in response to similar questions, most recently on 20 October last, the Government decided that procurement of the national conference centre should be in the form of a public private partnership. The procedures involved are complex and are set out in the Department of Finance's interim guidelines for the provision of infrastructure and capital investments through public private partnerships but are designed to ensure a transparent process. The key elements, such as the determination of public sector benchmark, an affordability cap and an economic evaluation of the project, are largely in place. The preparation of detailed project contract documentation has been very demanding and time-consuming but this is also close to completion.
Subject to final consideration of these matters by the NCC steering group next week, the Office of Public Works, which is managing the procurement process, expects to be in a position to issue invitations to tender to the three pre-qualified candidates on 10 December next. Assuming this is the case and allowing several months for engagement with the selected tenders, it is to be hoped that a preferred bidder could be selected by mid-2005.
As I have said before, my personal priority and that of the Government is to have this project brought to a conclusion at the earliest possible date while ensuring that the relevant procedures and guidelines pertaining to the process are closely observed and that nothing is done that might jeopardise its successful conclusion.