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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Convention Centre.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

793 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation whether the finance allocated under the 1994 national development plan for a national convention centre will be fully utilised during the course of the current plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17668/99]

The Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, includes provision for 33 million ecu, approximately £26 million, in European Regional Development Fund grant aid for the construction of a conference centre in Dublin capable of handling up to 2,000 delegates.

Following the failure of processes in 1995 and 1996 to secure an appropriate proposal, a new tender procedure, organised by Bord Fáilte, under the direction of the independent management board for product development, and conducted in accordance with EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, was launched in September 1997. This process culminated in June 1998 in the selection of the proposal submitted by Spencer Dock International Convention Centre Ltd., SDICC, to develop the conference centre at a site in Dublin's docklands.

Under the terms of the operational programme, the agreement of the Government and the European Commission, on foot of a cost benefit analysis, is required in respect of applications for amounts at or above 15 million ecu. A cost benefit analysis, undertaken by independent consultants, was favourable towards the project and in September 1998, the Government agreed to the making of a submission to the European Commission recommending formal approval for a 33 million ecu European Regional Development Fund grant towards the cost of developing the project. The Commission's approval in principle, for the grant was received in April 1999.

Since then, and following consultations between the developer and Bord Fáilte, I have been in correspondence with the Commission about how the construction schedule for the project can be accommodated within the various operational programme and CSF deadlines. Clarification by the Commission is now pending submission of final contractual details by the developers.

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