Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the recent survey carried out by the insurers of the National Aquatic Centre, that states that the centre has seeping roofs, corroding fixtures and possible water leaks; if he will request that Campus Stadium Ireland Development obtain an independent engineers' report on the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15138/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to a report prepared for CSID, the landlords of the National Aquatic Centre. My Department has been in touch with CSID and has been advised that the facts in the report do not support the conclusions the Deputy has drawn from them. I understand from CSID that it is standard practice for a property survey to be carried out each year by the insurer prior to the renewal of the insurance on the National Aquatic Centre. The issues raised in the report relate to the day-to-day operation of the National Aquatic Centre and consequently are matters for Dublin Waterworld Ltd., the operator of the centre.

I am also assured that the National Aquatic Centre is fully and properly insured.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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In view of the publicity that has accrued since the report of the insurer was leaked, does the Minister not agree there should be an independent inquiry to put all these matters to rest? Some of the issues raised were serious. In view of the fact that the roof blew off the building as well as the allegation concerning the enormous water loss in the operation of the aquatic centre, these matters should be cleared up, once and for all. The public is entitled to know, by way of an independent report, the exact position on the aquatic centre. Different versions of the story are being put into the public domain and the Minister has received assurances as well. Will he agree that it would be in everybody's interest to have the whole situation independently examined and reported on, not least the development and running of the aquatic centre?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Various questions have been asked during the past year and prior to that about the National Aquatic Centre. I have answered questions on this subject on numerous occasions. I attach no blame to Deputy O'Shea in that respect. He is entitled to ask any question he wishes. However, I wish to make clear that the National Aquatic Centre is a world class facility which is being enjoyed by tens of thousands of people every year.

The spectre of defects at the centre has been raised on numerous occasions but these allegations which appeared in the media last year about leaks and cracks have all been dealt with. If one takes into account the facts of the report, which was prepared meticulously by experts, it definitively discounted the negative material. For example, a team consisting of Rohcon, the contractor for the centre, and its expert, and CSID and its experts, investigated all these allegations last summer, having had to go to the High Court to gain access to the centre. Public statements of the findings of these experts were made at that time. I will not waste the valuable time of this House by reiterating all those findings. Damage to the roof was incurred due to an unfortunate event that occurred on 1 January 2005. The roof has been fixed and the centre, which was re-opened on 20 May last year, has been operating successfully since then.

This is a world class centre without any question or doubt. It has hosted the Special Olympics and the European short course championships. It is something about which the nation should be proud instead of one about which people should have doubts. I want once again to dispel those doubts.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I understand a snag list was drawn up before and after the centre was opened and that this process has not yet been completed. With reference to structural defects, I understand that the overview which took place was just that, rather than a detailed structural report. The only detailed structural engineering report that was carried out on the roof was after 20 m2 of it was blown away on New Year's Day in 2005. I support Deputy O'Shea's call for a report. On numerous occasions I called for an international engineering consultancy firm to be employed for this purpose, or even for Kavanagh Mansfield structural engineers, which has already completed a report on a small section of the roof, to carry out a definitive report so that we can ascertain once and for all if there are defects and, if that is the case, that they can be fixed. That would help the integrity of the centre and ensure its future.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Will the Minister indicate if full payment has been withheld from the contractor at this stage, and if all moneys that were due to Campus Stadium Ireland by Dublin Waterworld have been paid following the outcome of the High Court case?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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It is my understanding that the case is, or may be, subject to appeal. Therefore, I must be very careful about what I say in regard to it. To the best of my knowledge, to date, funds have not been received in respect of VAT from Dublin Waterworld. With regard to the report to which the Deputies refer, there have been many reports on this centre and I assume that Deputy Burton's question relates to a property survey report which was carried out by AIG for CSID dated 20 February 2006. That report was copied to Dublin Waterworld Limited.

With regard to the alleged defects specified in this question, there is no reference in the report to seeping roofs and the reference to corrosion is made in regard to elements of the centre that are the responsibility of Dublin Waterworld and are, therefore, part of the maintenance contract and, accordingly, are the responsibility of the operators, namely, Dublin Waterworld Limited. The insurance on the National Aquatic Centre is up to date. The premium falls due in March each year and CSID is obliged under the lease to ask its insurance broker to seek tenders for the renewal.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The time for that question has now elapsed. We will now proceed to Question No. 65 in the name of Deputy Eamon Ryan.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Is it not in my name?

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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No, it is in the name of Deputy Eamon Ryan.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The question was nominated by Deputy Gogarty.