Vol. 470 No. 3
18 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the anticipated date for the commencement of the building of the national conference centre; if he has satisfied himself that the centre will get through the planning process and be completed by the 1999 deadline; if he has applied to the EU for an extension of the funding deadline for the centre; and, if so, the outcome of such an application. [18712/96]
22 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if marketing of the national conference centre has commenced; if so, the number of conferences secured to date; and whether the State will be liable if the centre is not ready on time for the conferences booked to date. [18713/96]
27 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, made to date with regard to the proposed national conference centre; and if he will make statement on the matter. [18799/96]
34 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the anticipated completion date for the national conference centre; the current preferred location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18704/96]
46 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has received the independent cost benefit analysis report on the RDS conference centre proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18855/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 22, 27, 34 and 46 together.
As the Deputies are aware, the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 makes provision for European Regional Development Fund support for a large dedicated conference centre capable of handling up to 2,000 delegates to be built in Dublin.
The position is that, following the failure of the open tendering competition to produce an acceptable private sector proposal, I have been pursuing since January last, as recommended by the independent Product Development Management Board, an alternative strategy for a major international conference centre under the current Tourism Operational Programme. In accordance with this strategy, Bord Fáilte, under the aegis of the aforementioned product board, has been examining an outline proposal from the Royal Dublin Society, RDS, which, as a voluntary body, is potentially eligible for consideration for a higher rate of capital assistance normally reserved under operational programme for public and similar bodies. The RDS has been advised, inter alia, that its proposed centre, which will be located at its headquarters in Ballsbridge, would have to operate without annual operating subsidy from the State or revenue from casino gaming.
The possibility of a second proposal, involving a public-private joint venture, was also explored during the year but I was informed by Bord Fáilte, which is responsible for assessing such proposals, that the promoters were not in a position to submit the necessary outline details within deadlines set to allow assessment of suitability for inclusion in the alternative strategy.
Bord Fáilte and the product board have now completed their examination of the RDS proposal and have recommended a separate independent cost/benefit analysis. This analysis is being undertaken by an experienced UK consultancy firm, selected by Bord Fáilte on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure. Bord Fáilte informs me that it has been told by the consultants that they expect to be in a position to furnish the report in the next few days. Once available, I will consider their finding, with those of the product board, with a view to referring the RDS proposal, if appropriate, for decision by Government as to possible submission to the European Commission which must individually approve major projects of this magnitude under the operational programme.
In regard to planning, I have no function in this process and hence it would be inappropriate for me to speculate as to the prospects of any application to the relevant authorities.
