Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

My understanding is that the negotiations are still ongoing with the preferred bidder. They are at an advanced stage and, hopefully, they will come to conclusion sooner rather than later.

It must be accepted that in the current financial situation worldwide and in this country there are difficulties in that respect. Whatever the decision on the contract, which will be made by the NTMA, the benchmark is that it must be, first, within the budget set down for it and, second, below the public sector benchmark. The issue is being overseen by the NTMA and the Department of Finance.

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