Full cost per visitor to National Convention Centre revealed

The National Convention Centre has cost the taxpayer more than €500 for each visitor, it has emerged.

The Irish Times reported that State payments of more than €43m have been made to the Dublin Docklands centre.

It is part of the public-private partnership deal made with the consortium behind the project in 2007.

The State has agreed will pay the consortium around €715m over 25 years before the centre comes under State ownership.

The figures were released following a parliamentary question by Labour TD Kevin Humphreys.

The centre has held 267 events since its opened, with 84,451 attendees. The payments made by the State so far represent a €512 subsidy for each visitor.