Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The question is fairly specific. It is on the outline of works the Minister intends to see carried out on that much-needed project over the coming year. He has spoken about the archaeological work and the fencing work. These were part of the original contract, yet they were plucked out and presented as advance works while the substantive project was parked. These works are independent of the substantive project. They do not need to hold back the release of the tender for construction. The tender itself is clearly being prepared. Will the Minister release the project to tender for construction in the coming year? He Minister is talking about potentially beginning work in the first quarter of 2020, but a job of this scale could take much of a year to go through the tendering process. There is no need to wait for the other stages to be complete. It is something on which the Minister could start in order that it could be ready when the archaeological and fencing works are finished. From what I can see on the ground locally, much of the fencing work is in fact pretty much finished. The Minister has outlined various figures in respect of land purchase. This funding has been drip-fed over recent years. It does not need to hold up the works. It is independent and the tendering can take place in parallel with any of the other stages.

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