Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the tender for the proposed national conference centre will be awarded; the number of applicants for the work; the likely location for the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5332/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in reply to Priority Question No. 1 today, the detailed tender documentation for the procurement of a national conference centre in the Dublin area was approved by the NCC steering group on 7 December 2004 and was subsequently issued by the Office of Public Works to each of the three previously short-listed consortia on 10 December 2004.

Allowing sufficient time for engagement with the tenderers, it is hoped that a provisional preferred tenderer will be selected by mid-year, with the award of the contract, subject to Government approval, following later.

The provision of a national conference centre is a necessary precursor to expanding a business tourism sector currently worth €250 million a year to the country. As such, it remains my personal priority, and that of the Government, to have this project brought to a conclusion at the earliest possible date.