Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the stage the National Design Centre project is at; when the project will go out for tender; when construction will commence; when the project will be completed; the estimated cost of the project; the amount spent to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38081/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of my Department’s commitments under the National Development Plan is to develop plans for a National Design Centre (NDC)to support the potential of the design sector to drive innovation and competitiveness and as a source of future job growth potential.

My Department officials are currently consulting with stakeholders and drafting a Request for Tender for the development of a business plan for a National Design Centre, setting out a business model, appropriate budget and funding requirements, management structures and drawing upon best practice and international precedents.  There has been no expenditure to date. The tenderer will be required to estimate the cost of the initiative, as part of the development of the business plan.

The Request for Tender will be published shortly.