Vol. 487 No. 1
29 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of tenders for the proposed national conference centre which were received by the 31 January 1998 deadline; when it is expected that a decision will be made and construction commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3287/98]
As the Deputy will be aware, the new tender procedure for a national conference centre is being organised by Bord Fáilte under the aegis of the independent management board for product development, and is being conducted in full compliance with the EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, concerning the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts.
The full tender procedure notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 13 September 1997, and in the Irish media on 16 September. It invited applicants to submit requests to participate in the tender procedure by Monday, 20 October. Bord Fáilte received 12 responses within this deadline set for receipt of applications to tender. On 31 October 1997, ‘invitation to tender' documentation was dispatched by Bord Fáilte to seven qualified applicants, six of whom confirmed their intentions to submit full tenders before the deadline set, 14 November, for so doing. The closing deadline for receipt of tenders was at 5 p.m. on Monday, 2 February. Bord Fáilte received full tender submissions from five consortia, and has now commenced its assessment of these submissions. Bord Fáilte and the management board have estimated it will be late March before their deliberations will be completed.
Under the terms of the tourism operational programme, the agreement of the Government and the EU Commission on foot of a cost benefit analysis conducted in accordance with Community law will then be required in respect of any final selection made. It is hoped that the grant offer can be made to the successful candidate by mid July, who will then be able to proceed with construction plans.
A specific timescale for commencement or completion of the national conference centre project cannot be determined until the proposal has been formally approved by the Government and the European Commission, on foot of a cost benefit analysis conducted in accordance with Community law, and matters such as planning permission are in place.
