No entry to leaky Aquatic Centre for construction firm

A CONSTRUCTION firm involved in the design and construction of the leaky €62 million National Aquatic Centre in Dublin was yesterday refused entry to the facility.

In the wake of an independent engineers’ report which identified 126 cracks, including some that had been repaired but continue to leak, a team of experts from construction firm Rohcon were prevented yesterday from investigating the west Dublin building.

The report, by engineers Malachy Walsh and Partners, said there was extensive cracking of the side walls of the competition pool and the leisure pool. Engineers also found unsafe storage of chemicals and questionable roof structure.

Yesterday, Rohcon Ltd said it was deeply concerned at the reports that have been presented in the media over the past few days about defects at the National Aquatic Centre.

Rohcon in partnership with Dublin Waterworld Ltd contracted with Campus Stadium Ireland Development (CSID) to design, build, operate and maintain the centre.

“The centre was successfully delivered on time and within budget. The pool tanks were fully tested to the appropriate British Standard and were accepted by CSID and Dublin Waterworld,” Rohcon said.

“In response to earlier queries from CSID, Rohcon had provided a report on June 21 to the effect that all known defects were remedied. This is still our position in the absence of being able to inspect the building,” the company stated.

It is most unusual that one partner in a consortium would report defects to the media without giving the other partner the opportunity to deal with these issues, Rohcon stated.

“Rohcon also considers it significant that CSID is engaged in legal proceedings against Dublin Waterworld for amongst other issues, poor maintenance of the building.

“We will remedy any latent defects that are our responsibility,” the company said.

Yesterday, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said: “Why (there was) a structural fault on a new building (built) by a very serious company, I don’t quite frankly know. But there were specification faults, as I understand it, in the roof and the wind certainly didn’t help it.”

Mr Ahern also accused the company running the centre, Dublin Waterworld, of “leaking” stories to the press.