Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to reports of extensive leaks from the National Aquatic Centre and of problems with the plant operating the swimming pools; if he has carried out an assessment of these problems; the scale of and likely cost to rectify any such problems; if these issues were included in the engineering examination and report commissioned by the OPW from a firm of consulting engineers; if he will publish the outcome of this engineering examination; and if he will make a statement on the future of the National Aquatic Centre. [23737/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As I have stated in the House previously, the Office of Public Works, at the request of my Department and in consultation with Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, commissioned Kavanagh, Mansfield & Partners to examine the damage at the National Aquatic Centre and to provide a report. The findings of that report have been taken into consideration in the repair works that have been carried out. There are ongoing legal, contractual and financial issues that are being considered in the light of the report and it would not be appropriate to publish it or comment on its findings at this time.

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 fully operational. As the Deputy is aware, CSID has initiated legal proceedings against Dublin Waterworld Limited and, as these matters are currently before the commercial court, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on them.

The National Aquatic 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 one million visitors, which placed the facility among the top attractions in Ireland.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the breakdown of the costs associated with the development of the National Aquatic Centre, including project management costs, design costs, construction costs, equipment and plant and fitting out and commissioning costs; the breakdown of the cost headings for sums in excess of €500,000 and any consultancy fees in excess of €10,000; the persons to whom these amounts were payable; and their jurisdictions. [23739/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the development of the National Aquatic Centre was awarded by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited to a consortium comprising Rohcon Limited, Dublin Waterworld Limited and Waterworld (UK) Limited. The final account agreed with Rohcon is €63,325,294, which is made up of the contract amount of €62,090,192 plus change orders of €1,235,102. These figures are exclusive of VAT. The Rohcon account included design and plant costs. Equipment, fit out and commissioning costs would have been a matter for Dublin Waterworld Limited, a private company established to operate the National Aquatic Centre.

Project management-contract administration was provided to the CSID by Davis Langdon PKS. The original fee was €839,931. The post practical completion fee was €27,648. Expenses were €30,000. Consultancy fees in excess of €10,000 were paid to the executive services team led by Magahy and Company and McCann FitzGerald, legal advisers. The amounts paid would have related not only to the National Aquatic Centre but also to the wider Sports Campus Ireland project. A consultancy fee of €313,069 was paid to High Point Rendel for the provision of the overview report of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited. With the exception of High Point Rendel, which was a UK-based company, the jurisdiction of the firms to whom the above amounts were paid was Ireland but some of these firms would have had sub contractors from outside Ireland.