John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the outcome of his perusal of the Indecon report on the feasibility of a regional conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2401/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will publish the Indecon report on the feasibility of a regional conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2331/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 125 together.

I informed the House yesterday by way of written answer that the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism had asked Fáilte Ireland to arrange an objective and independent study of the feasibility of a Regional Conference Centre in the Shannon/Limerick area. Indecon Consultants were engaged to carry out the feasibility study, the report of which was submitted to Fáilte Ireland, and this report has subsequently been presented to my Department.

The report concludes that the case for a regional conference centre in the Shannon/Limerick area is subject to considerable uncertainty and is marginal at best. The study also concludes that the required level of investment is not likely to represent the best use of public resources, either in a national context or in the context of the Shannon/Limerick region. Having examined the report, I agree with its findings. I have asked Fáilte Ireland to place a copy of the report on their website www.failteireland.ie.