Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 6

Written Answers. - National Conference Centre Funding.

John Bruton

Ceist:

5 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the extent of the matching funds required to be generated from local sources to accompany EU Structural Fund aid for a national conference centre; and whether the Government is willing to provide any or all of these matching funds.

The Taoiseach

The National Development Plan 1994-1999 includes provision for a national conference centre capable of accommodating up to 2,000 delegates at an estimated cost of £50 million. In accordance with EU regulations, the maximum level of grant payable to a private developer would be 50 per cent of eligible expenditure which would leave a minimum matching requirement of £25 million.

As I indicated in answering written questions on 29 March, the position is that following on two separate studies, one of the benefits to the country of a national conference centre and the second of the most desirable location for such a centre, the site at the Royal Dublin Society was chosen for the proposed development.

The current position on the RDS project is that the society has not been able to generate the funds necessary to match the amount available from the European Structural Funds.

The RDS proposal is one of a number of proposals that have been received for a national conference centre. The essential difficulty of matching funding has arisen in every proposal. The reason for this is that the conference centre is not commercial in itself but there are significant benefits for hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related facilities from the spending of those who come to the centre.

In the circumstances the issues which could provide justification for matching funds are currently being examined. The Government will then consider the various arguments arising and come to a decision on the matter.

The Government remains committed to having a national conference centre and believe it can be developed without further funding from the Exchequer.