Ivor Callely
Ceist:136 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the potential benefits, if any, of the proposed national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21760/97]
Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.
The tourism potential of a national conference centre in this country has long been recognised and the first Operational Programme for Tourism, 1989-93, contained provision for such a development but no progress was made at that stage. The current Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 makes provision for European Regional Development Fund support for a large dedicated conference centre capable of handling up to 2,000 delegates to be built in Dublin.
Europe as a whole caters for over 350 major conventions each year, and it is estimated that a minimum of a further 15 such conferences, representing an extra 30,000 delegates, can be secured by developing the proposed centre. When account is taken of the fact that international conference delegates to Ireland typically spend slightly in excess of £1,000 per head the proposed centre would, therefore, have the capacity to generate additional tourism revenue of £30 million and support over 1,500 extra jobs in Irish tourism. It would also help to improve the seasonality of Irish tourism.