John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

During the severe weather conditions experienced in the west Dublin area on 1 January 2005, damage was caused to the National Aquatic Centre. The roof of the 50-metre diving pool was damaged, as was the roof of the leisure water area, in addition to damage to lights and fittings around the complex. Kavanagh Mansfield and Partners, consulting structural and civil engineers, were commissioned to examine the damage and oversee the repairs. Repair works for the National Aquatic Centre were completed on 20 May 2005 and the centre was reopened to the public on that date. Kavanagh Mansfield and Partners have certified that the programme of works was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the design and secured certification from the designers, contractors and subcontractors for the various elements of the works.

To date, no State expenditure has been incurred in this work. Campus Stadium Ireland Development Company has taken an approach that payment for the repairs is a matter for the contractor and the insurer to resolve between them.

In June 2005 there were media reports about alleged leaks at the National Aquatic Centre. These stories were unfounded and may have been connected — I do not know — with other extraneous issues. Arising from those reports, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited arranged that Rohcon Limited, the company which constructed the National Aquatic Centre, should carry out an inspection of it. The inspection team conducted a technical examination of the entire centre with particular reference to the structural integrity of the concrete works. The inspection involved experts in the field. It was led by Rohcon and included S&P Architects, URS Structural Engineering, Europools, specialist subcontractors, Davis Langton, PKS Project Management and Kavanagh Mansfield and Partners, consulting structural and civil engineers.

Rohcon found no evidence of any structural defects or of any water leaking into the plant, despite what had been alleged in the media. The company found some leakage through pipe joints and valves, which in its view was an operational and not a structural matter. In addition, a test was carried out which confirmed there were no leaks from the swimming pools. URS Structural Engineering confirmed the concrete works were designed and constructed to meet the British standard 8007. They confirmed that any cracks which existed were not leaking, were not of a structural nature and were entirely normal for a building of this type. Rohcon published the results of its findings on 7 July. Campus Stadium Ireland received a separate report from its own structural engineers, Kavanagh Mansfield and Partners, which supported the Rohcon findings, but unfortunately these reports, stating there were no leaks, received very little coverage in the media. The original media reports were unfounded, untrue and incorrect.

Deputy Deenihan spoke of the possibility of providing other centres of excellence throughout the country. Unfortunately, resources only go so far. We have had a very successful battle with a view to providing funding to start the first phase at Abbotstown. I also appreciate the encouragement and support received from both principal Opposition spokespersons in this respect. I anticipate that in future years, Governments will add pearls to the Abbotstown necklace and will end up with a sports campus of international standard which will be capable of hosting any event.

The provision of further facilities throughout the country is dependent on the sports capital programme. As I said earlier, we have provided almost 5,000 facilities at a cost of €395 million in every city, town, village and parish. We have touched every home. I hope these facilities will help people to participate but, unfortunately, we cannot have an Abbotstown in every parish.

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