Vol. 503 No. 2
74 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a feasibility study regarding an aviation heritage centre in Baldonnel; if so, the contents of this report; the action, if any, he will take on foot of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9437/99]
A market and financial feasibility study for a proposed national aviation heritage centre was commissioned from BDO Simpson Xavier Consultants in 1998 and I received their report in October last. The report contains an outline of the tourism and heritage potential for preserving the State's aviation heritage in a national aviation heritage centre, researches the likely numbers of national and international visitors, compares the project with similar ventures and provides estimated financial projections.
I have since studied the report and I am now in the process of exploring the possibilities of establishing the project along the lines of the public/private partnership model, possibly in tandem with the State's millennium celebrations.
