Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the arrangements his Department and the OPW have made for the proper management and supervision of the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown; the role being played by the OPW; and the role being played by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited. [23740/05]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the role his Department is playing in the management and supervision of the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown in respect of the shareholding held by the Taoiseach and the Minister of Finance in the project; if his Department made any inquiries into the recent closure of the complex for five months as a result of storm damage in the new year and the further recent reports of significant problems with the pool's plant and equipment, leading to extensive water leaks. [24146/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 346 together.

The management of the National Aquatic Centre, NAC, is undertaken by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, a company specifically established under the legislation to manage the Abbotstown project. Its shareholders are the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and myself as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The chairman of the board of CSID is a member of the staff at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Office of Public Works acts as a technical adviser to the Department in matters relating to Abbotstown.

The Department works closely with the CSID on all matters relating to Abbotstown, including the operation of the National Aquatic Centre. My Department and I have been kept fully informed of developments at the NAC, including the matter of the repair work that was necessary as a result of the storm damage to the roof in January. At the request of the Department, the Office of Public Works commissioned Kavanagh, Mansfield and Partners to examine the damage to the roof and provide a report on the matter. The findings of the report guided the response of the CSID and were taken into account in agreeing the repair programme that was carried out in the shortest possible timeframe. There are legal, contractual and financial issues that are still ongoing and are being considered in the light of this report and it would not be appropriate to publish it or comment on its findings at present. It was unfortunately necessary to close the centre during the period while work was taking place as the primary concern was the safety of members of the public and the staff employed at the National Aquatic Centre.

As I have stated already, I am not prepared to comment on unsubstantiated media reports about the National Aquatic Centre except to state that the centre has been reinstated and is now fully operational. The centre was developed to provide a 50 metre pool for Ireland's needs and specifically to provide a suitable location for hosting the aquatic events of the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Since the centre was opened to the public in March 2003, it has successfully hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games and later in that same year the European Short Course Championships, both to significant acclaim. Indeed, the National Aquatic Centre has justly drawn much well deserved admiration from those who have visited it and used its facilities. In its first year of operations, it had close to 1 million visitors, which placed the facility among the top attractions in Ireland.