Vol. 470 No. 1
270 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade when he will make a recommendation on the location of the National Convention Centre, following consideration of the proposals currently before Government; and if he will clarify the position on the continuing availability of EU funding for the project, which should be under construction well before 1999, if it is to qualify. [18268/96]
The Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 agreed between the Irish Government and the European Commission in July 1994, proposed that with the support of the European Regional Development Fund, a large dedicated Conference Centre capable of handling up to 2,000 delegates be established in Dublin. The present position is that following the failure of the open tendering competition to produce an acceptable private sector proposal, I have been pursuing since January last, as recommended by the independent Product Development Management Board, an alternative strategy for a major international conference centre under the tourism operational programme. In accordance with this strategy, Bord Fáilte, under the aegis of the aforementioned product board, have been examining a proposal from the Royal Dublin Society — RDS — which, as a voluntary body, is potentially eligible for consideration for a higher rate of capital assistance normally reserved under the OP for public and similar bodies. The RDS has been advised, inter alia, that their proposed centre, which would be located at their headquarters in Ballsbridge, would have to operate without annual operating subsidy from the State or revenue from casino gaming.
The possibility of a second proposal, involving a public/private joint venture, was also explored during the year but I am informed by Bord Fáilte, who are responsible for assessing such proposals, that the promoters were not in a position to submit the necessary outline details within deadlines set to allow assessment of suitability for inclusion in the alternative strategy. Bord Fáilte and the product board have now completed their examination of the RDS proposal and have recommended a separate independent cost/benefit analysis. This analysis is being undertaken by an experienced UK consultancy firm, selected by Bord Fáilte on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure, who are expected to report shortly. Once available, I will consider their findings, along with those of the product board, with a view to referring the RDS proposal, if appropriate, for decision by Government as to possible submission to the European Commission who must individually approve major projects of this magnitude under the OP. With regard to the continuing availability of funding for the project, European Commission Division C(94) 1972 of 29 July 1994 in relation to the Operational Programme for Tourism provides, inter alia, that European Regional Development Fund support committed at national level before the end of the programme period may still be spent after that period has expired.
