Over €1.8 million was pumped into the failed white-water rafting centre development, Dublin Live can reveal.
The project was shelved after it came under sustained criticism from the public and elected representatives. The proposal consisted of a white-water rafting course, a swift water rescue training facility, a kayaking and canoe polo pool and an urban street scene including a new plantroom building.
The controversial development at Georges Dock in the north inner-city was refused partial funding of €19 million by the Government last year. Dublin City Council's Chief Executive Owen Keegan, who had championed the scheme, said "a considerable amount of negative commentary related to this project".
Read more: George's Dock swift rescue village 'not white water rafting by stealth'
In a response to a questions from Councillor John Lyons, Mr Keegan said a total of €1,834,809 was put into the overall development at Georges Dock. He added that the money was "not wasted" as the work produced will be used for any future project.
He said: "It is important to note that costs incurred for various elements of the project while incurred against the cost centre for the overall project were in fact critically important investigative and design works that will be used in the design of any future project in the Dock and therefore was not wasted money."
Mr Keegan added that the "scale and complexity" of the project as well as the amount of work to bring the project to procurement stage. The biggest entry on the bill was a €1,489,765 invoice from Urban Agency Architects who designed the project.
The architecture firm is heading up the new proposal for the site which some Councillors says is similar to old project. The new project will cost at least €25 million.
A presentation document to DCC's Central Area Committee, which was obtained by Dublin Live, outlined the "proposed scheme" of officials which includes three separate facilities which have winter and summer layouts. The biggest section at 3,200 sqm is the rescue village with a water course - the segment which has drawn concern from councillors about a repeat of the last project - and a mock village.
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