THE Government's continuing indecision over the proposed national convention centre is costing the economy £30 million year in lost tourism revenue and up to 1,500 jobs, according to Mr Noel Carroll, chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
"This project was formally announced in 1993 as part of the National Development Plan," he said, adding that a commitment was given to support a convention centre capable of accommodating up to 2,000 delegates at a projected cost of £50 million.
"Three years later, there is very little evidence of progress, despite enormous interest from developers capable of delivering the project," Mr Carroll said. "The longer we delay in starting work, the more we are losing out in future bookings."
He said there was considerable interest in Dublin as a location for major conventions. However, most such events were planned several years in advance and convention organisers were already taking decisions about where to host events in 1998 and 1999.
Meanwhile, the Dublin Inner City Partnership (DICP) has strongly criticised the declared preference of the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr Kenny, for the RDS in Ballsbridge as a location for the project, despite a Bord Failte report favouring the city centre.
Mr David Connolly, director of the DICP, said this attempt to "sideline" the inner city in favour of moving the convention centre to Dublin 4 would send "warning signals" to the European Commission, which has pledged £23 million in aid for the project.
He said the construction and operation of the centre in O'Connell Street - for which the Carlton Group already has planning permission - would be a major boost to the economy of the inner city and provide needed jobs.
"The centre, if built in O'Connell Street, would also complement the recommendations of the recently published Historic Area Rejuvenation Project action plan [and] balance the substantial investment already made on the south side of the river, particularly in Temple Bar."
It is known that the RDS and the promoters of the O'Connell Street project have been invited to make presentations on their plans to the Government this week. A final decision on the matter is expected within weeks.
