Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the estimated cost of the refurbishment of the National Concert Hall; the amount expended to date; if she will give a commitment that the project still has her support and that the requisite level of funding will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20697/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to confirm my Departments support for the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall. The procurement stage of the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall is currently being progressed by the National Development Finance Agency. In accordance with the Government Decision, the project was tendered, on a design, build, finance and maintain PPP project basis. Two participating consortia submitted tenders on 25 September 2009 and these tenders are currently being assessed by the NDFA under the PPP Guidelines set out by the Department of Finance. Once these evaluations have been finalised a more definite timeline for the project can be established. As this is a PPP process costs are determined at the time of contract conclusion.

An evaluation of the economic benefits of the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall was carried out in 2006 and my Department and the Department of Finance were satisfied with the outcome of this evaluation. I have no doubt that the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall would make a very substantial contribution to the arts and will provide considerable benefits to the economy.