National Aquatic Centre
Aerial View of National Aquatic Centre
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| Location | Blanchardstown, Dublin |
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| Co-ordinates | 53°23′47″N 6°22′12″W / 53.3964536°N 6.3699619°W |
| Broke ground | 2002 |
| Constructed | 2002-2003 |
| Opened | 10 March 2003 |
| Operator | National Sports Campus Development Authority |
| Architect | S & P Architects |
| General Contractor | Rohcon |
| Construction Cost | €70 million |
| Seating Capacity | 2,500 |
| Sports | Swimming, Water Polo, Diving, Synchronised Swimming |
| Events Hosted | |
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2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003 European Short Course Swimming Championships |
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The National Aquatic Centre (NAC) (Irish: Ionad Náisiúnta Uisce) is an indoor aquatics facility in Dublin, Ireland. The Centre houses a 50m swimming pool, diving pool, leisure pool and fitness centre. Since opening in March 2003 it has hosted the swimming events of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, the 2003 European Short Course Swimming Championships and a number of international water polo events.
The National Aquatic Centre hosts the Irish Open Swimming Championships, Irish Senior Water Polo Cup, Irish Open Diving Championships, as well as a number of other national and regional aquatic events.
In 2001, a Design, Build and Operate Contract for the Centre was awarded to a consortium of companies – S & P Architects (Design), Rohcon (Build) and Dublin Waterworld (Operate). The capital cost of the National Aquatic Centre was originally budgeted at €62.5 million and the project was certified as complete in September 2010. The actual cost of the project is still unclear but €119m has been spent on the Campus to date.
The Centre sustained roof damage during a period of stormy weather in January 2005 and had to be closed for five months so that repairs could be carried out. This closure, after only 18 months operation, damaged the business of the operating company, Dublin Waterworld. Campus & Stadium Ireland Development, the State company which owns the centre, commissioned an engineer to assess the roof damage and they concluded that the roof was not designed and constructed in accordance with building regulations, despite the fact that CSID's experts had certified it. During the closure period NSCDA (National Sports Campus Development Authority) commenced legal proceedings to remove the operators. The case was settled in December 2006 with Dublin Waterworld agreeing to leave the Centre and each party covering their own costs.
NSCDA claimed that the former Operator Dublin Waterworld Limited had failed to pay VAT of some €10m. A High Court appointed arbitrator upheld the VAT charge as did the High Court. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no basis for the VAT charge and set aside both the earlier awards. The Public Accounts Committee investigated the background to the case and issued a report in May 2012, which was highly critical of NSCDA and the Department of Sport.
In December 2012 Dublin Waterworld acquired documents that demonstrated that NSCDA had been advised in 2002 that the VAT charge was contrary to legislation. These documents were forwarded to the Public Accounts Committee, and an explanation from NSCDA is awaited.
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