The conference centre hasn't docked yet . . . many obstacles ahead for €400m plan

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Archiseek / Ireland / News / 2005 / November 16

For most of the past decade the "will they, won't they?" saga surrounding the provision of a National Conference Centre has almost descended into farce. The proposed centre has been hawked around would-be Dublin locations, from Phoenix Park, the docklands, the RDS and even the old Carlton Cinema site in O'Connell Street. All the while everyone lauded the concept but no-one seemed to able to move it beyond that stage. Today, Sports and Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue will announce that the Government has reached a decision on a "provisional preferred tenderer" to build the €400m centre at the Spencer Dock site near the Point Depot. While that represents progress, such has been the extraordinary series of delays, hitches and obstacles that only the most optimistic would regard building of the centre as a done deal. Dublin certainly needs a modern, purpose-built conference centre and its existence will give a €50m boost to the city's economy. But what is the best deal available to the State for its part in providing the new centre?

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