The Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell is to investigate the cost implications to the Exchequer relating to the recent controversies at the €62 million National Aquatic Centre.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he no longer stands over previous claims that the company which won the contract to operate the National Aquatic Centre was a company of international standing.
He made his comment in the Dáil following questions on the ongoing controversy surrounding the centre which is the subject of a bitter legal dispute between the current operators of the centre, Dublin Waterworld, and the State company which controls the State-owned facility, Campus Stadium Ireland Development (CSID).
Mr Ahern also claimed that reports of major leaks and cracks at the centre were "red herrings".
CSID is suing the operators, Dublin Waterworld, for control of the centre, claiming it has failed to comply with its contract on a number of basic issues, such as paying rent and maintaining the facility. Dublin Waterworld is countersuing on claims it owes more than €10 million in VAT, and has also raised issues about the alleged leaks and quality of the building.
In late March Mr Purcell wrote to Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton about the operation of the centre, after she had raised concerns about the potential costs to the State in relation to its closure from January because of storm damage on January 1st. The centre did not open until late last month.
In the letter he said that in a series of replies the Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue had claimed that there were no cost implications to the State arising out of the closure of the centre or the storm damage.
Mr Purcell told Ms Burton the issue "will be examined during the course of my audit of the accounts of [ CSID] with a view to establishing that the foregoing actually represents the position vis-a-vis the Exchequer".
Yesterday Ms Burton said she believed an audit of the cost implications relating to the aquatic centre was extremely important, as it could have implications for future projects .
The aquatic centre was one of the first public-private partnerships in the State, where a consortium was awarded a contract to build and operate it over 25 years for a total fee of €65 million.
Yesterday in the Dáil Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny launched an assault on the ongoing problems at the centre during questioning of the Taoiseach. "The debacle of the National Aquatic Centre truly is an apt metaphor for the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government - massive costs to the public, a so-called state-of-the-art attraction that is all splash, with fake waves, the roof blown off and leaking like a sieve."
Asked by Mr Kenny whether he stood over a statement in 2002 that one of the companies associated with the operation of the facility was one of "substance and international standing", Mr Ahern said he did not.