Ivor Callely
Ceist:87 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress made on the availability of EU funding for the Spencer Dock national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11811/99]
Written Answers. - National Conference Centre.
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 1994-99, was organised by Bord Fáilte under the direction of the independent management board for product development, and advertised in 1997.
The procedure was conducted under the terms of EU council directive 93/37/EEC and sought a proposal for the design, construction and operation of the centre. 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 in April 1998 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. A final decision by the Commission on this submission was delayed while it concluded its examination of a complaint lodged with it on the tender procedures used in the public procurement process. Its examination has now been completed, and I understand that the commissioners made a formal decision, at their meeting of 21 April, to close the complaint case. The Spencer Dock consortium has been advised of this development and has been requested to submit an up-to-date timetable for completion of the project.
John Perry
Ceist:89 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans, if any, he has to appoint an Irish-based management company which deals specifically in the area of conference management for the new conference centre in Dublin; the discussions, if any, he has had with any company outside the State regarding the management of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11857/99]
The tender procedure for European Regional Development Fund grant assistance towards the development of a national conference centre in Dublin sought a proposal for the design, construction and operation of the centre. Management of the completed facility will therefore be a matter for the successful applicant. I have no function in this matter and, therefore, have not had discussions with any company, either in or outside the State, about the issues referred to in the question.