Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure Deputy Ruth Coppinger that, whatever the suspicions of the community are, that is not the position. We have sought to accelerate the project as quickly as possible. The release to tender occurs when projects reach a certain point. This project had not yet reached that stage when the previous Minister released projects to tender last April. I will be working very hard to bring it to the point where it can be released. As I said, there are obligations on the design team that have to be met before that point is reached.

Both Deputies have referred to the new tendering process. Deputy Joan Burton is correct that the latest date by which tenders must be submitted such that the new tendering process will not apply is 8 January 2017. I reassure Deputy Ruth Coppinger that it is not a case of me introducing retrospection. It is something that has been well known by everyone in the business for a long time. It is a new process that will apply from 8 January 2017.

I have met the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to discuss the provision of additional money for building projects. I regard this project as a priority for all the reasons outlined by the Deputies; the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and Deputy Lisa Chambers. I will be working to achieve a satisfactory outcome for the parents and children involved.

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