HE Government is to consider a second proposal for a national conference centre in Dublin.

It would be located at the top of O'Connell Street.

Plans for the proposed centre, which would cost £15 million to build, will be submitted by a consortium including Dublin Corporation and the Dublin City Centre Business Association.

For the past four months, only the RDS has been in the frame for the new conference centre.

This followed a decision to abandon a competition to find a suitable proposal, organised by Bord Failte on behalf of the Department of Tourism and Trade.

A spokeswoman for the Department said last night that the consortium, known as the Carlton Convention Centre and led by businessman Mr Richard Quirke, had approached the Minister about the matter.

Like others, the Carlton group had originally intended to develop a casino with the centre, but the new proposal would not include a casino.

The group had expressed interest again because it might be able to qualify for 75 per cent funding from the EU towards the proposal, she said.

It appears that, as a public institution, the RDS believes it might he able to qualify for this 75 per cent funding.

Other proposals would only get 50 per cent funding, because of their make up.

Many of the entrants maintained that only a casino would generate sufficient revenue to subsidise the conference centre but the Minister, Mr Kenny, is said to have preferred that the project should stand alone.

The Department spokeswoman said the Minister had instructed Bord Failte to contact the principals behind the Carlton consortium.

She said both proposals would be assessed by the end of June and the most viable sent to Brussels for consideration for funding.

The RDS was not available for comment.

Carlton's original proposal, which included using the Carlton cinema and a derelict site on O'Connell Street, would have cost £35 million.

Mr Paul Clinton, of Clinton Associates, architects, is the Carlton project manager. He said last night that the proposal had been modified and would cost £15 million to build. The plans include 2,000 seats, two or three restaurants, banqueting facilities and 100,000 sq ft of "activity space".

The plans also include using the current Fingal County Council offices and there are proposals for a bureau de change and some craft shops at ground floor level.

Mr Clinton said because the group has planning permission for its previous proposal, the plan just needs some modification. He said the group was delighted to be able to submit the modified proposal. "We always believed in the project and believe that O'Connell Street is not as prestigious as it should be. This project would help it greatly", he said.

The conference centre would be managed by the Spectator Management Group (SMG). The promoters claim that SMG is the largest conference managing group in the western world, with 86 per cent of the market.

Dublin City Centre Business Association chief executive Mr Tom Coffey said last night that the consortium's proposal provided for several hundred jobs. It would be located in the city centre, whereas the RDS one would not, he said.

The project would complement the Dublin Transport Initiative, including the Light Rail project, he added.