Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, probably a consortium. The pre-qualification process for potential tenders was completed over the summer. Four consortia pre-qualified to tender for the bundle of projects. An invitation to tender was issued to them in October 2014 and a series of consultation meetings on technical, legal, commercial and insurance issues is under way. Tenders will be submitted in next month following which a preferred bidder will be selected. Following a period of negotiation, it is expected that a contract could be concluded by next October with construction to commence shortly afterwards. The contract will, hopefully, be completed in October. The seven PPP projects are being planned as a single bundle. All sites will be under construction at the same time with a period of up 24 months of completion. The time required will vary by site. It is positive that we will have new modern courthouses in the seven locations I mentioned.

The Government has not made a final decision regarding the GSOC vacancy. The person who is appointed to the post of chairman will complete the term remaining as opposed to being given a new five-year term. The time remaining is approximately a year and a half.