Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

News about anything in the Cork area is of specific interest for me. I do not take offence at anything that the Senator has said and understand the frustration he is expressing on behalf of the people of Cork. I presume he was referring not only to those associated with or who have an interest in the School of Music but also to all other participants, including those who might be looking at PPPs and other such projects. I appreciate that there are obstacles, cumbersome and otherwise, in the system but one recognises that in a fair and balanced system where people can avail of an appeals process, it can take time to surmount them. The democratic appeals process is part of the hiccup in the case of the Cork School of Music. To be as fair as possible, I will outline to the House the position to date.

The project was launched in July 2000 and 12 consortia expressed an interest in bidding. After initial presentations and interviews, a final shortlist of three bidders was issued with the invitation to negotiate documentation in November 2000. In that short period, July to November 2000, the project made quick progress. Detailed evaluation of the final bids was undertaken just two months later in February 2001. Jarvis Projects Limited was selected as the preferred bidder just four weeks later in the following month.