I refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 22 of 29 November last. The National Aquatic Centre reverted to the control of the NSCDA by way of its subsidiary company NSCDA (Operations) Ltd. from 1st December 2006, following legal proceedings against the previous operator. Its first full year's trading has just been completed and is currently being assessed and reviewed.
In its first year of trading since the National Aquatic Centre reverted to the overall control of the Authority over 532,000 people will have visited the Centre, that is, in terms of swimming access, swimming lessons and membership. From this base the centre can continue to grow further business utilisation. On a day to day level, the generation of business is a matter for the Authority and its subsidiary Company and it is considering all available options for growing further the utilisation of the Centre in terms of pricing structures, re-branding, marketing, advertising, and normal trading hours for a facility of this nature which has to cater, on a balanced basis, for broad categories of recreational, competitive and elite users.