The Labour Party has called for a high-level investigation into the National Aquatic Centre after it emerged that the operators have not paid rent to the State for two years.
The €62 million state-owned centre leased to Dublin Waterworld Ltd (DWL) has been beset by problems since it was first proposed as part of the shelved Campus Stadium Ireland project.
It emerged in the High Court today that the operating company - which is making losses running the centre - is not paying rent to the State. Justice Peter Kelly today described the situation as "nothing short of astonishing".
The centre is owned by Campus Stadium Ireland Development Ltd (CSIDL) and its shareholders are the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the Minster for Sport John O’Donohoe and the Minster for Finance Brian Cowen on behalf of the State.
Justice Kelly was presiding over an application by Dublin Waterworld for a stay on proceedings seeking possession of the centre. He granted a stay on certain aspects of DWL’s application but consented to other elements of the proceedings initiated by Campus Stadium Ireland’s Development Limited to be remitted for arbitration.
Labour’s spokesperson on finance Joan Burton this evening called for the called on the Comptroller and Auditor General to undertake an urgent inquiry into "all aspects" of the lease.
She said it was "astonishing" that CSIDL - with the Taoiseach and two ministers as its shareholders - assented to the deal with DWL.
"Questions just continue to mount up about this €62 million National Aquatic Centre," she said, noting that 60 staff where laid off for five months this year when the roof blew off the pool building. "The Centre was recently reopened, but that has not put an end to the climate of farce and mismanagement."
She said that the Minister for Sport John O’Donoghue should explain the situation at the centre considering DWL was given the contract to run the centre at his instruction.
"Now it seems he couldn’t have been bothered to check if that company was adequately financed to do the job."
The awarding of the contract to run the centre was a cause of scandal in 2002 after it emerged the DWL was a shelf company with no assets.
Former secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach Paddy Teahon resigned as chairman of the board charged with developing a national sports campus that was to include the National Aquatic Centre and various other facilities including a national stadium, over the awarding of the contract to DWL.