Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 4

Written Answers. - Temple Bar (Dublin) Project.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

37 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment the degree of control he will possess over the allocation of £37.5 million towards the completion of Ireland's premier cultural quarter, Temple Bar; and the plans, if any, he has for the future development of the area.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

127 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself with the financial reporting arrangements in relation to Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

147 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment the cost of the Temple Bar Project to date; the amount of money received from the Government and the EC for the project; the completion date of the project; and an estimate of the final cost of the project.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 127 and 147 together.

Temple Bar Properties Ltd., the development company established under the Temple Bar Area Renewal and Development Act, 1991, has drawn up a development programme for its properties in the Temple Bar Area providing for cultural, residential, leisure and small business uses involving expenditure of £100 million over a five year implementation period to be completed by April 1996. In addition, it is estimated that private sector projects valued at about £100 million will be carried out in the Temple Bar Area over the period.

It is estimated that the cultural element of Temple Bar Properties' programme will cost £37.5 million and it is proposed that this will be financed jointly by EC Structural Funds and Exchequer funds. Projects approved for aid from Structural Funds must be cleared by me for Exchequer counterpart funding before any building work commences. To date, sums of £2 million and £1.5 million have been paid towards the cultural programme from the European Regional Development Fund and the Exchequer, respectively. The balance of £34 million needed to complete the cultural programme will be met by £19.5 million from Structural Funds and £14.5 million from the Exchequer.

An EC pilot project involving the Irish Film Centre and infrastructural works such as relaying of cobble stones and provision of new street lighting and street furniture, has been approved for funding of £3.6 million from European Regional Development Fund. Of this amount, £2.87 million has been received to date. A matching contribution of £3.6 million is being provided by a combination of Dublin Corporation, Temple Bar Properties and other contributions.

I am satisfied that all of the normal reporting arrangements are in place in the case of Temple Bar Properties Ltd. and Temple Bar Renewal Ltd. in relation to financial and other matters. Progress reports on the activities of these two companies, on which my Department is represented, are submitted on a regular basis. In both cases, the accounts are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.