The open tendering competition organised by Bord Fáilte on my behalf to develop the national conference centre terminated because, in the considered opinion of the Bord Fáilte assessment team and the independent product development management board, none of the 13 candidates was prepared to participate in the development of the centre within the parameters set out in the project invitation document. They concluded that while individual submissions failed to meet requirements under various headings, the key area of deficiency to emerge was in relation to funding proposals for ongoing operating costs, including proposals relating to revenue from casino gaming which is currently prohibited by statute in Ireland.
I have now asked Bord Fáilte to pursue further a proposal from the Royal Dublin Society to develop a national conference centre at their Ballsbridge site. As a non-profit making body, the RDS will be seeking EU assistance at the higher aid rate reserved for public bodies and intend to operate the proposed centre without subsidy from external sources. The RDS will prepare a comprehensive proposal which will be subject to full assessment by Bord Fáilte, in conjunction with the independent management board for product development. A separate costs-benefits analysis of the project proposal will also be commissioned. I will decide how to progress matters further in the light of the outcome of this assessment process.
