87 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the convention centre will open; the cost of this project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7879/10]

The National Conference Centre, which is to be known as The Convention Centre Dublin, is scheduled to open on 1 September 2010.

On 5 April 2007 the contract for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin was awarded to Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd. Under the public private partnership arrangement, Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd, is required to design, build and finance the National Conference Centre and to operate and maintain it for a period of 25 years, after which the facility will revert to the State. In return, once the construction of the Centre is complete and it is open for business, the State will pay the Company an annual charge, the maximum total cost of which over 25 years will be just under €380m in present day values.