Bernard Allen
Ceist:54 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the position regarding the national conference centre. [3581/99]
Written Answers - National Conference Centre.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:386 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 1 December 1998, the proposed Spencer Dock national conference centre is still on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3509/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 386 together.
The latest tender procedure for the development of a National Conference Centre in Dublin, with EU assistance of up to 33 million ECU under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, was organised by Bord Fáilte under the direction of the independent management board for product development.
The procedure was conducted under the terms of EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC and Bord Fáilte-led evaluation teams undertook detailed assessments of full tender submissions which were received from five consortia. The management board concluded that the tenders submitted were not such as to enable it to make a recommendation and the process then proceeded to the negotiated procedure stage provided for in Article 7 of the EU Directive. This was conducted by an independent team of technical experts, specially appointed for the purpose by Bord Fáilte. On consideration of their findings, and following a positive recommendation by the board of Bord Fáilte, the management board decided on the proposal submitted by Spencer Dock International Convention Centre Limited to develop the project at a site in Dublin Docklands.
Under the terms of the Operational Programme, decisions on grant applications in respect of amounts at or above 15 million ECU (productive investments) must be made with the agreement of the Government and the EU Commission on foot of a cost-benefit analysis conducted in accordance with Community Law. This cost-benefit analysis, which was favourable towards the project, was undertaken by independent consultants and on 16 September 1998 the Government agreed to the making of a submission to the EU Commission recommending formal approval for a 33 million ECU grant towards the cost of developing the project. The final decision of the Commission, which is also concluding its examination of a complaint lodged with it on the tender procedures under the Public Procurement process, is awaited on the project. All queries raised have been responded to through correspondence and, most recently, at a meeting between Bord Fáilte, the management board and Commission officials.
The developers are still working towards a timeframe of 31 December 2000 for completion of the project, should an early and favourable outcome from the Commission's deliberations on the project be forthcoming.