Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the result of the promised benchmarking of the National Aquatic Centre's performance [i]vis-À-vis[/i] other similar facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8671/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Aquatic Centre is operated by NSCDA (Operations) Limited, 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.

In parallel with overseeing the ongoing operation, in 2008 the authority undertook an international benchmarking exercise comparing the performance of the centre against other equivalent facilities around the world. This work was completed last year and has been evaluated both by the authority and by my officials. Utilising a model of best international practice, the report provides a forecast for trading over the next five years and through this process, identifies the need for an annual subsidy. In general terms, the clear message is that all publicly accessible 50 metre indoor pools receive direct or indirect subsidies from governments, local authorities, sports councils, universities and other like organisations. In this regard, therefore the performance of the National Aquatic Centre is not dissimilar to other like facilities.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister knows my views on this facility. In 2007, the centre received a subsidy of €1.8 million, in 2008 it received a subsidy of €1 million and there is an overhang rates bill of €600,000 that has not been paid and is due. I discovered since we spoke about this last that as a result of a benchmarking process, the centre is entitled to an annual subsidy of €1 million, so I presume it is built into the budget for the coming year and thereafter.

It is somewhat convenient that after the event we have discovered that a subsidy will be required. The centre was built on the basis in the PricewaterhouseCoopers feasibility study that there would be an operating profit of between €500,000 and just over €2 million annually. Did PricewaterhouseCoopers do the benchmarking or was it some other body? Will it be sued for the bad advice given or is there any comeback now that we have built this facility?

I do not know what the centre was benchmarked against but in Abbotstown there is a leisure facility as well as the 50 metre pool in addition to the other facilities. It is a wonderful centre but I have visited it at peak times and there were approximately 30 people in the water. It is grossly under-used, which makes me think it is being grossly mismanaged. The Minister must act on this. While I do not want to criticise him, there is a serious problem at the National Aquatic Centre.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to deal with the issue. The international benchmarking report was prepared by Mazars——

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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What about the PricewaterhouseCoopers report, if it gave the advice in the first place?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot tell the Deputy as I did not hire it. The history of the aquatic centre has been unhappy but I give credit to the chairman, Mr. Dan Flinter, and the group there currently, which has done a remarkable job since it took it over. The numbers have been brought back from approximately 350,000 and the group has addressed a raft of problems in the way the facility was being run. There are now over 700,000 using the facilities and that number is growing. They are the sorts of numbers that the Deputy and I would wish to see.

There is a significant number of school children, etc., getting training and all means possible are being used to increase numbers. It is clear that a similar facility on any international scale is in receipt of a subsidy. There is a similar one in Australia, which has a state subsidy of €2 million per year. With a subsidy of €1 million, the facility is very much at the lower end of the scale in that regard. This is because there are leisure facilities and income is being generated.

The new group has done remarkable job in reducing energy costs and that is reflected in the decreasing subsidy. It brought the best people in to advise on all aspects of the issue. I have had numerous meetings with the chairman and there is a level of frustration. There is anecdotal evidence that appears every now and again from one or two sources that seems to gather a bit of momentum regarding how the place is being run.

I have examined this facility as it is so important, both nationally and internationally. We want to maximise the use of it and this has now been done. Those involved in running it would accept that as they have resolved many of the significant problems regarding personnel, etc. There is a new platform on which to work and the facility will probably get that subsidy.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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This has the potential to become a black hole. I am not going on anecdotal evidence as I went out myself to look at the facility. There were no more than 30 people in the facility, although the leisure facilities are probably relatively well used. The aquatic centre — the pool, diving area and lessons — is grossly under-used, no matter what the Minister is being told.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I agree that we must maximise this world class facility. We should use it.