Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands.

In July 2023, I gave approval to Galway County Council to issue a request for tender for the development of the Inis Oírr pier. Galway County Council is the contracting authority and is therefore responsible for all aspects of the procurement process.

A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department and Galway County Council meets on a regular basis, with the most recent meeting taking place on 20 February, to monitor progress on the development of the piers on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. Both projects are included in the national development plan. I understand that a two-stage tender process is currently under way and that Galway County Council has completed the evaluation of the tenders received for stage one.

I am advised that documents for stage two of the tender process are due to be published within the next fortnight. This second stage is limited to the successful tenderers from stage one and gives them an additional period of time to prepare detailed proposals in response to the tender documents.

Galway County Council will then evaluate the responses to identify a preferred bidder. Subject to the successful completion of this procurement process, it is expected that a contractor will be appointed later this year. I can assure the Deputy that I am determined that we maintain the momentum to get this project underway and completed.

See this speech in context