Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The OPW remains committed to funding the Ennis south flood relief scheme. As the Deputy will appreciate, as with all public finance projects, it is essential that cost and value for money be assessed closely.

An issue arose in regard to the preferred tender for the project and it did not prove possible to resolve this satisfactorily. As a result, the preferred tenderer withdrew his tender and, on foot of legal and other advice, Clare County Council, decided to re-tender the project. The circumstances giving rise to this situation could not have been foreseen and were dealt with by Clare County Council in an appropriate manner. I am pleased to say work on the re-tender process is under way, and I have been informed that the new tender competition should be ready for advertising on the Official Journal of the European Union website in late July or early August. This project is very important to me, as Minister of State, and to the Office of Public Works. We will continue to work with and offer every assistance to Clare County Council to ensure the work commences as soon as possible.

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