Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if further investigations have been carried out and any remedy found for the leaks that were identified at the National Aquatic Centre in west Dublin; if the previous operator of the centre, Dublin Waterworld, has been replaced in view of recent events at the National Aquatic Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28316/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to media reports of alleged leaks at the National Aquatic Centre in late June this year.

Arising from these reports, Campus and Stadium Development Ireland, CSID, asked Rohcon Limited, the company that had constructed the National Aquatic Centre to carry out an inspection at the centre. Rohcon was refused entry to the centre on several occasions and eventually CSID had to apply to the High Court to gain access. An inspection was carried out by a team led by Rohcon, and including S&P Architects, URS Structural Engineers, Euro Pools specialist subcontractors. Davis Langdon PKS, Project Managers and Kavanagh Mansfield & Partners, Consulting Structural and Civil engineers represented CSID at the inspection.

The inspection team conducted a technical examination of the entire centre with particular reference to the structural integrity of the concrete works. Rohcon found there was no evidence of any structural defects or of any water leaking into the plant room as had been alleged in the media. Rohcon found some leakage through pipe joints and valves which in its view were operational matters. In addition, a test was carried out and confirmed that there were no leaks from the swimming pools. URS Structural Engineers confirmed that the concrete works were designed and constructed to meet the British standard 8007. It confirmed that any cracks that existed were not leaking, were not of a structural nature and were entirely normal for a building of this type. Rohcon published the results of its findings on 7 July. CSID received a separate report from its own structural engineers, Kavanagh Mansfield & Partners, which supported the Rohcon findings.

CSID has initiated legal proceedings in the commercial court against Dublin Waterworld Limited for breaches of the lease on the National Aquatic Centre. As these proceedings are before the court, it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment on them.