Govt agrees leasing of Conference Centre

The Government has agreed in principle to the leasing of a new National Conference Centre in Dublin.

Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue said the Government was taking a step further in its commitment to the Programme for Government.

The Government has agreed in principle to provide this facility by a leasing arrangement through open competition process.

O'Donoghue estimates that additional annual revenue earned from the Centre could be between €25m to €50m.

A steering group made up of representatives from the Minister O'Donoghue's Department, the Department of Finance, the Office of Public Works and Fáilte Ireland are to advise on the project.

Fáilte Ireland maintain that overseas conference attendees to Ireland are in the range of 120,000 a year and it has been estimated that a further 30,000 could be generated through the availability of the National Conference Centre.