John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the benchmarking review of the National Aquatic Centre has been completed; if it is to be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/08]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he is satisfied that the National Aquatic Centre will not require an operational subsidy in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 287 together.

The National Aquatic Centre reverted to the control of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd, now the National Sports Campus Development Authority, on 1 December 2006 following High Court proceedings against the previous operators for failure to comply with the terms of their lease. As part of the contingency planning for the repossession of the Centre, the Authority established a subsidiary company, NSCDA (Operations) Ltd., to operate the Centre.

To date it has been necessary to provide both operational and capital subsidies to meet the costs of a comprehensive "health check" carried out on the Centre following repossession from the previous operators together with a maintenance programme required to bring the facility back to standard.

Following the first full year of operation under the new arrangements, a clearer picture of the operational needs of the Centre is emerging. I am encouraged by the significant increase in both visitor numbers and income which have already been achieved.

The Authority has arranged for a financial assessment study, which will benchmark the National Aquatic Centre against other equivalent facilities, to be carried out. This work is now nearing completion. When the consultants report comes to hand it will be evaluated by the Authority who will advise me on the issues involved. This exercise, together with the Centre's performance since it reverted to the direct control of the Authority, will inform my decisions on the funding requirements of the Centre in the longer term.