Just one event taking place in the controversial Agricultural and Equestrian Event Centre in Punchestown this year can be described as either equestrian or agricultural, an Oireachtas Committee heard yesterday.
During a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (Pac) the €15 million State-funded centre was described by the Department of Agriculture as meeting a need in the agricultural and equestrian sectors for such a facility.
The department was presenting a review of the project which claimed it was properly sited at Punchestown and provided a positive economic and social benefit.
Pac chairman Michael Noonan of Fine Gael questioned the relationship between a series of events taking place at the centre this year and the agricultural and equestrian sector. These included a chilled food show, the Oxegen Rock concert, a car show, a house and garden exhibition, a Christmas trade show and a commercial truck show.
He said that of the 10 events at the centre this year, the only event that appeared to be linked to agriculture was the Kildare Growers' show, a horticultural show taking place at the moment.
"There seems to be a divergence between the theory and the practice," Mr Noonan said.
Pac deputy chairman John McGuinness of Fianna Fáil said that the review was attempting to "stand up" the project as being worthwhile and necessary.
However, the evidence of events at the centre this year indicated there was a limited demand among the very sectors it was supposed to serve. "It doesn't do what it says on the tin," he said.
Responding, the secretary general of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Moran, said it would take time to build up the number of agricultural and equestrian events, and that it had in 2003 and 2004 held significant breeding and equestrian events there.
The review, by an internal steering group of the department, followed a critical report by the Pac last year on the project, which said it was not properly vetted before it was approved. In its review the department admitted that the project was not properly appraised before the department decided to provide it with 100 per cent funding of €14.8 million.
However, the review defended the project as providing a positive benefit, stating there was an "identifiable gap that required an international standard facility to hold major agricultural events".
It also pointed out that there had been no further drain on State resources in the operation of the event centre, which has had a positive net value under a cost-benefit analysis by the group.