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National Conference Centre.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

Ceisteanna (18, 19, 20)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the construction of a national conference centre; when consideration of the two tenders submitted will be completed and a contract awarded; the estimate of a likely starting date for construction and completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15001/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

81 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a decision will be made on the location of a national conference centre before the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15060/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

87 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the provision of a national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15018/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (9 píosaí cainte)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 81 and 87 together.

On 22 March last, I informed the House that the national conference centre project team, headed by the Office of Public Works, was engaging in a process of consultation with the tenderers, intended, inter alia, to enable the OPW to provide clarification to the tenderers and, where appropriate, to take account of issues raised by them. This process is designed to ensure the quality and robustness of the tenders that will be submitted.

The consultation process with the tenderers has resulted in a number of changes to the tender documentation. In the light of those changes the national conference centre steering group, which is responsible for overseeing the procurement process, considered it appropriate and reasonable to allow the tenderers additional time to consider and, if necessary, amend their proposals. Accordingly, the deadline for the receipt of the tenders has been extended to 20 May next. As a result, the selection of a provisional preferred tenderer is scheduled for later in the summer, with the award of the contract, subject to Government approval, expected before the end of the year. When construction will begin and finish will be a matter for the successful tenderer.

As I have said in this House on many occasions, my priority and that of the Government, is to have this project brought to a conclusion at the earliest possible date while ensuring that the relevant procedures and guidelines relating to the process are closely observed and that nothing is done that might jeopardise its successful conclusion.

Any delay in the provision of a national conference centre is disappointing. When will a decision be made given that the deadline for the receipt of the tenders has been extended? Will a decision be made this summer? It is clear from the media that tourism interests and hotels are concerned at the lack of this facility. Will the contract be awarded this summer with a view to the commencement of the construction of a national conference centre? In recent years we have been deprived of large conferences and a major injection of funds due the lack of such a facility while other countries have built a base to attract conferences. Given that we will build on a greenfield site, we are far behind in comparison with the facilities available in other countries. How can we overcome those problems?

Originally the last date for the receipt of tenders was 18 March 2005. What happened subsequently was that the national conference centre project team, headed by the Office of Public Works, became engaged in detailed consultations with the relevant tenderers and had to reply to various questions. In any event, through various requests received from some of the tenderers, it was decided to facilitate them and to extend the final date for receipt of tenders to 20 May 2005.

There are two processes involved subsequent to that. One relates to the selection of the provisional preferred tender. The second relates to the awarding of the contract and this is clearly a matter for the Government. I expect the Department will be in a position in the summer to select the provisional preferred tenderer. The issue will then be referred back to the Government in accordance with the procurement requirements and with the Government's requirements. At that point the Government will make a decision whether to award the contract. The awarding of the contract is the objective I have set myself and I hope it will be awarded by the end of the year, if it is to be awarded.

The issue of the provision of a national conference centre has been dragging on since 1994. It is important that a firm commitment is given to make a decision at the very least in 2005. It is estimated that Dublin is losing at least €50 million revenue every year because of the lack of a national conference centre and approximately 30,000 visitors, not including repeat visitors, are being lost to the country. Only 1% of the 4,000 international conferences held in Europe come to Ireland owing to the lack of a national conference centre in Dublin.

Will there be an onus on the contractor to commence the project immediately and is there an opt-out clause in the contract? What is the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the project or will the costs be borne in total by the successful tenderer? What will be the ongoing running costs of the centre to the Exchequer?

Deputy Deenihan will be aware that this is a public private partnership project and it would not be possible for me to give him figures. Any figures which I could supply would be commercially sensitive. The tendering process will not be completed until 20 May. The Department must then select the provisional preferred tenderer. The question of the awarding of the contract must be put before the Government. It would be premature and pre-emptive of me to discuss figures.

With regard to the length of time and with the greatest of respect, the issue of a national conference centre has been discussed in this country for more than 20 years. More progress has been made in recent years than in the previous 20.

A sum of €33 million has been allocated.

I hope the process will be completed so that progress can be made. Everything that could have been done has been done.

Does the Minister agree that, from the point of view of a Government decision on tenders, a bad conference centre is worse than no conference centre and if proper public transport facilities are not in place, it is better to shelve the project than build a bad conference centre? Given the recent revelations about the millions of taxpayers' money squandered by this Government on infrastructural projects such as roads, will the Government give a commitment that any tenders will be tightly fixed in terms of price and cost with penalties incurred for cost overrun?

All these issues will arise at the drafting stage of the contract. Great care must be taken to ensure public funds are spent in the most productive manner possible and taxpayers' risk is minimised to the greatest possible extent. I do not agree with Deputy Gogarty's point regarding the squandering of money. The Government has moved as expeditiously as possible on this project and has moved on to the next stage as quickly as was possible.

Written answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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