Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.

The National Aquatic Centre is operated by NSCDA (Operations) Ltd., a subsidiary company of the National Sports Campus Development Authority. All day-to-day operations of the National Aquatic Centre are a matter for the authority and the operations company.

When the National Aquatic Centre was restored to the ownership of the NSCDA not only did the centre require an extensive capital programme, much effort has gone into rebuilding the reputation of the centre and increasing its customer base.

Notwithstanding the need to provide an initial subsidy to the centre in its first full year of operation after it was repossessed by the NSCDA. I have previously stated my view in the House that the centre should in time be able to operate on a self-financing basis. In order to assist in this overall process, the National Sports Campus Development Authority has arranged for a financial assessment study to be carried out which will benchmark the National Aquatic Centre against other equivalent facilities. Work commenced in early February with an estimated timeframe of approximately two months. This exercise, together with the centre's 2007 performance, will inform the level of standard against which future performance will be measured.

Regarding the particular club referred to by Deputy Upton, I have been advised that negotiations are continuing with regard to the fees for usage of the centre's facilities in 2008. I hope an agreement can be reached which is satisfying both to the centre and the club in question. I am advised, however, that the proposed annual fee to which the Deputy refers does not represent the level of fees which are to be charged to the club but, rather, the commercial value of the pool usage which the club is seeking. Furthermore, the "unusual offer" referred to by the Deputy was in fact proposed by the club itself not the management of the centre and was acceptable to the centre and subsequently withdrawn by the club.

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